Challenge Accepted

This is a phrase I heard on my mission. This morning as I attended the temple, I say this phrase was accepted from the youth there.

After receiving my mission call I started doing other ordinances in the temple so today was the first time in almost 2 years I went to the baptistry. Arriving early on Monday morning wasn't a foreign idea to my school schedule, in fact, the semester before my mission I went regularly. The difference today however filled me with gratitude and happiness.

Upon arriving I needed to print out temple cards and one of the sweet temple ladies told me to go downstairs to the baptistry and she would bring them, and I needed to "get in line." I headed down the stairs and there was a good number of youth in front of me. There is a small chapel near the baptistry and it was filled, not only was it youth of the church but most of them had brought their own family names to the temple. I would say they accepted Elder Andersen's challenge to the youth of the church to prepare as many names for the temple as you perform baptisms in the temple and help someone else to do the same. I later found out, there was at least one ward that gathered the youth and brought them to the temple every Monday morning. In attendance with them was the bishop, young men and womens leaders and parents.

The temple was full and once I had my spot in line, there were about 30 people in front of me. That is 140 ordinances performed within 90 minutes of the temple opening. My heart was full with gratitude as I watched these youth enter the water and perform these ordinances. I can't even imagine how diligently the missionaries are working to help these people accept the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I was also grateful for the peace I find in the temple. It is a refuge for me. Right before the youth got started a member of the temple presidency, President Ashton, addressed those present and asked them, "what questions do you have about the temple?" He assured us we could think about it as we discussed baptism. After the devotional finished, the front row of youth stood up and went to work. They knew exactly what they were doing. It looked likes bees at a beehive. 

Nothing says first day of school like your dad wanting to drop you off. (He didn't want to smile.)

Other challenges being accepted is the one to get a higher education. Today was day 1 back at BYU. First class was family history and we discussed missionary work, most of the class members were returned missionaries. We also talked about temples. It was fabulous. 

Next stop was computer science and we discussed missionary work again. I think I am going to like these classes. There is a very large diversity of majors and goals in this class. 

Middle class was Ballet. Well, on the bright side I can still walk. Just kidding. There were pros and cons and lets just say, "yikes!" There is definitely lots of room for improvement. It felt so good, but not dancing for 21 months is evident. 

(studio on campus)

Next class: ASL. It was so much fun. Lots of stories, deaf humor, and laughs. It is a good class. I am excited for the assignments we have, like talking to deaf people one-on-one. Going to the deaf ward doesn't count. Good thing I know a couple people who would fulfill that requirement without it being for a class. #Communicatewithourhands

Last class was music and you might not guess which room we were in...

I didn't know they had an ALMA lab. Such a BYU thing (#BookofMormonStories). Inside the ALMA lab is super cool.

Keyboards connected to computers. It was pretty hi-tech.

This last picture is something I found in the bookstore, which I thought, "Where do they come up with this stuff?"

After not being in school for a bit, I forgot the family tradition of a fathers priesthood blessing before school starts so, we got that done too. I love the Priesthood. Nothing can compare to it. 

I can't help but think how incredible everything else, all the small things, all the big things. Life is wonderful.