That is why it is fortunate that I am marrying a good one. April 3, 2009 in the Oakland temple. I am pretty dang excited. If you want to read the story look at Kaylinn's blog. She tells it better than I do. I am going to be merging my blog with hers here shortly anyway....so you may not hear much from me on this blog anymore. APRIL CANNOT COME SOON ENOUGH!
Read more...Not that we are already thinking about babies....but if we were to have one, this is what it might look like.
For the last couple of months I have almost been annoyed with the manner of which the church's stand has been on this proposition. As someone who is a very close associate with many who choose a different lifestyle from my own, it has been difficult for me indeed to attempt to defend the church's council when my own political thoughts had been in disarray. I found this quote by Elder Maxwell to be very interesting indeed. With all that is going on in our nation at this time, it seems that prophetic counsel is once again coming to pass for our generation. In my American Heritage class, there was a quote shared by Brigham Young who stated that, "When the Constitution of the United States hangs, as it were, upon a single thread, they will have to call on the 'Mormon' Elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will step forth and do it" (Discourses of Brigham Young, pg. 361) However, with the rumors surrounding that the people's vote will once again be overturned it looks as though our democracy is beginning to "hang by a thread" and that the people's voice is no longer being heard.
As for Elder Maxwell's quote, I find this to be extremely good prophetic advice to those who are having a difficult time understanding why the church may have needed to get involved. Pay close attention to the way he words his advice on our involvement:
'Elder Neal A. Maxwell's counsel below is prophetic. Elder Maxwell was known to be very politically active. The question is: As Elijah asked, "How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God, follow him [and His prophets]: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word." I Kings 18:21'
Neal A. Maxwell, "A More Determined Discipleship," Ensign, Feb 1979
"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.
'"This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ. . . . Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions.
"Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened....Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes willbe lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices areclear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us,let us not then complain of the heat."…there is occurring a discounting of religiously based opinions. There may even be a covert and subtle disqualification of some for certain offices in some situations, in an ironic irreligious test for office. If people, however, are not permitted to advocate, to assert, and to bring to bear, in every legitimate way, the opinions and views they hold which grow out of their religious convictions, what manner of men and women would we be?
"If we let come into being a secular church which is shorn of traditional and divine values, where shall we go for inspiration in the crises of tomorrow? Can we appeal to the rightness of a specific regulation to sustain us in our hour of need? Will we be able to seek shelter under a First Amendment which by then may have been twisted to favor irreligion? Will we be able to rely for counterforce on value education aided in school systems which are increasingly secularized? And if our governments and schools were to fail us, would we be able to fall back upon and rely upon the institution of the family, when so many secular movements seek to shred it? It may well be that as our time comes to "suffer shame for his name" (Acts 5:41), some of that special stress will grow out of that portion of discipleship which involves citizenship."
So, my dear friends, the day has come for us to choose "whose on the Lord's side who? Now is the time to show." I have come to learn even more so now the importance of loving someone for who they are and not for what they do. These associates will continue to be dear friends of mine, but I must defend what I believe.
Finally, here is an article about Elton John that I was a little skeptical about reading, but he actually defends proposition 8! Go ahead and take a look...http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-11-12-elton-john_N.htm
What a great couple of weeks. Things continue to move forward slowly with Kaylinn and I, but moving they are. What an amazing girl! If I could only begin to describe how amazing she really is, I would fill up about 20 posts worth, and that would only be the beginning. One thing that she and I have decided to do, being that she is endowed, is to try and go to the temple every week. This was our first week going, and being that I hadn't been in a while, was surprised to see some of the "changes". Threw me off a little and was intrigued by the changes. 
But most of all, I can't believe that I had been putting off the opportunity to feel such peace. You see, for whatever reasons I just had not been to the temple in a really long time. Something always came up when I wanted to go. I even made the attempt to head out to the Newport temple (tiny by the way) about 3 weeks ago and blasted MapQuest sent me on a wild goose chase and I showed up 3 minutes late for the session. I am just so blessed to be dating a girl who is worthy to go to the temple and has the desire to go on a weekly basis. I have always had certain curiosities about things in the temple, none that have made me doubt, but when I asked her about them she just said, "I don't know. I don't really think about them. I just accept them for what they are and realize that someday I will know." Like I said, amazing! I am excited to fulfill this goal we have made to go to the temple on a weekly basis. How did I get so lucky?
Another thing we have decided to do is to do a scripture study every time we see each other. I just had this really strong impression that she and I should make a solid foundation to our relationship. That we shouldn't just focus on the physical benefits of a relationship, but to create a deep emotional and spiritual foundation. It has turned out to be such a great experience and she has so many great insights that I have never seen before. And what better habit to get into now as a couple than having a prayerful scripture study.
We also tried to do as my chiropractor suggested to me a couple of months ago, a sugar fast. It is so hard to stay away from any form of non-healthy sugars. But, I was able to make it three weeks before I caved. This was the temptress, Jogurt. 
It is a frozen yogurt bar of pure divinity. You can choose from like 10 flavors of yogurt and then mix in whatever you want. I highly recommend the english toffee ice cream with heath bar add-in. Pretty sure I could eat that continuously for the rest of my life. So, being that the sugar fast did not work, we are trying the moderation thing cause cold turkey is just not happening! He also told me that it really needs to be like 80/20 anyway. haha I dare you to try it...NOT EASY! It does help you feel really healthy though, especially when you are eating loads of veggies!
To answer any speculations out there...no, we are not engaged. Time is the best tool for building a solid foundation. If it is meant to last forever, than taking a few minuscule months to make sure that it will work is fine by me. The only way for me not to destroy this one is just to take it one step at a time. She is so supportive and I have never met anyone who wants to work for me as much as I do for her. L-U-C-K-Y is what I am.
Everything else in life continues to move forward. I am excited to see my sister and her boys here next week. I sure do miss the family a lot and am hoping that I will be able to utilize my vacation days in a more efficient manner this next year. On that note, I will say adieu.
So, after days of me contemplating about whether or not I should just go for it, I decided to take the plunge and see what happens. All I can say is that I am very glad I did. Kaylinn is absolutely an amazing person with so much going for her. I seriously have a hard time focusing and just can't wait to be around her again. There is a lot to say about her, but I definitely do not have the time to spill it all out via blog. Lets just say that I am in very good hands, and very fortunate to have this opportunity. My parents (who happened to be in town) and sister Malissa were able to meet her this last weekend and they were very impressed by her. I will admit, I was a little nervous to see how they would react being that she and I haven't known each other too long, but they liked her a lot. BONUS! I really have never felt so happy and excited to be with someone. It has only been a couple of weeks I know, but we are playing it smart and making sure that we let time be the most important factor in our relationship. She really is so great, and I know you all would really like her. I know I do!
Anyway, here is a picture of her for all of you curious followers. The first is my favorite pic of her and then the other is one we took at Disneyland while riding the train around the park. She is almost as obsessed about that place as I am...but not quite! And I do know what you are thinking...the most incredible smile ever. :)
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