Overcoming Yourself

We are all our own worst critic,  but what drives us to the conclusions that we are not good enough? In my opinion, media is what leads us to believe that we are inferior in many aspects. Everywhere you look, (Movies, Magazines, Music, Actresses/Actors, Video Games, Ect...) there are standards that the world expects you to live by. These standards involve some of the following:

Immodesty
Being super-thin (even if it involves eating disorders)
Partaking of drugs or alcohol
Premarital sex
Partying with the wrong types of people
& basically many other types of immoral recreational activities

Just because the media has portrayed this lifestyle doesn't mean we have to pursue it. How many people are truly happy because they do pursue those things? Just by looking at those lifestyle choices, I can tell you that your health would suffer, your dignity would be lost, you might develop depression and regret, there would be no stability in your life, and most of all lonely. 

I, like some girls. tend to seek after things that build ourselves up. I am so grateful to have The Church of Latter-Day Saints in my life and to have grown up with the values and virtues it teaches. These are things we seek after:

Modesty

Being healthy

( Staying away from things that may harm our body)

Being Chaste

Being where we are supposed to be, when we are supposed to be there

& wholesome recreational activities

By doing these things, we can be truly happy. We also feel comfortable around others and ultimately are content with ourselves. 

When I was thinking about the things the media tries to force on us, I thought about modesty and swimsuits. As young women, we are naturally self-conscience about the way we look. So how can someone wearing a bikini be comfortable around others when the pressure to be thin is so overwhelming? I can't see how they ever could.

Drugs, sex, and alcohol are something that I will never understand. What good comes out of those things? Lets look at some possible outcomes. 

Drugs               Sex              Alcohol

  A temporary high   Pregnancy  Buzzed/ Intoxication

Loss of judgement Contracting diseases  DUI/ Manslaughter  

Those are just a few and you can imagine how those things would change your life. You could never be the same if those things happened.

By being 

HONEST*TRUE*CHASTE*BENEVOLENT*VIRTUOUS 

and seeking after things that are

 VIRTUOUS*LOVELY*GOOD REPORT*PRAISEWORTHY

we can overcome the doubts, the judgments, and the influence of the world. 

We should be happy and proud to be who we are. Let the world see what a unique individual you are without letting the world alter that by infecting you with it's smut. You have so much potential, and who knows, you might inspire someone else by your example. 

P.S.

This song came to mind while I was writing this. It is a very sweet, inspirational song.

We Seek After These Things

I was fortunate enough to go to a Youth Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from Thursday to Saturday. There were 700+ Mormon teenagers there! This is all of the attendees before a dance.

Youth Conference does not even compare to EFY, but it was still spiritual and fun! Some of the statements that stood out to me from the speakers are as follows.
Bishop J. Nathan Jurgans spoke of a man that asked "How do we save our youth?"
The answer was TEACH THEM WHO THEY ARE.
Brother Brehm Thomas Bell played a song by John Wilson during a class. Some lyrics that really spoke to me were, " I refuse to sit around and wait for someone else to do what God has called me to do myself."
This made me think more about missionary work. We are here on this earth because we agreed to living the Gospel and helping others realize that they did too. We should always give ourselves and our time for others. Even when we are not speaking about the church, our actions are speaking louder than we can imagine. People look at what we do, how we act, and what we say to figure out who we are. And we are Latter- Day Saints. We as the youth are a chosen generation, we were born to be kings and queens, sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. We have the strength to overcome Satan's sophistries by living the 13th Article of Faith.

"Don't just avoid the bad things, seek after the good"

Some things Sister Elaine S. Dalton said in a video shown were very inspiring. She said that there is light in the eyes of those who choose virtue. "Cleave to your covenants, stand in holy places,  lay aside vulgar things, return to virtue, and let virtue our thoughts unceasingly." 

I am so grateful to be a member of the only true church on this earth. Many say "I know the church is true" when bearing their testimony, but how many feel it in their hearts? In Alma 32, it states that we do not seek after perfect knowledge, but should practice and build up our faith. We can know the church is true by believing it is true and practicing the faith and precepts given to us. The Holy Ghost will only be with those who seek the light and truth.

2nd Nephi 28:30- For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.
We should always want to be the ones who listen to the Lord's counsel and seek to learn more and not the ones who believe that they know all there is to know. 


If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.