What I believe...

For a long time, I have wanted to write a little bit about what I believe in. A lot of my friends and family are members of the church that I am a member of, The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints. However, there are a lot who read my blog who aren't members and may not know what I do believe in other than I don't drink alcohol or smoke, etc.

I was reading an article in the Reader's Digest the other day (one of Jeff's favs) and It really helped me think about how I could approach what I'd like to say. The article was titled Why We're Happy. Here's the link if you want to read the whole thing.

http://www.rd.com/living-healthy/gross-national-happiness-adaptation/article75230.html

In a nutshell, the article was about how happiness is determined not by our "things" that we can acquire but by our values. Of coarse it was written by someones point of view and there were some studies that backed up some of what he was trying to prove-but it will help me in some of things that I would like to chat about for a second.

He listed 5 things that determine our happiness.

HAPPINESS FACTOR #1: FAITH

Mr. Brooks mentioned that it doesn't matter what faith you belong to, as long as there is some sort of faith that you do have-or prayer that you say everyday, etc. For me, this is of coarse huge. Anyone that knows me knows that my faith is a big factor in my life and use it daily to help me through anything that I am doing. I believe in a Heavenly Father that loves me and knows me by name. I know that he has a son, Jesus Christ who came to Earth not only to suffer for my sins but to fill in all of the blanks in my life that I cannot manage on my own. I know that if I remain faithful, that I can return to live with them again someday and have more joy than I can even imagine. I know of the power of prayer. I have felt it everyday in my life when I choose to use it. It strengthens me and it humbles me to know that all I need to do is to ask my Heavenly Father and he will lead me and guide in the right direction. It doesn't mean that every time my prayer is answered that it is exactly how I wanted it at first, but he knows me and knows

what is best for me.

HAPPINESS FACTOR #2: WORK

Mr. Brooks talks about work that earns you money in this section. I don't earn any money in my line of work as a mother and wife but I definitely earn happiness (there's that word again...). Words cannot express my feelings on motherhood and the importance of it in my life and in the lives of my children. When God created Adam and Eve, he gave them the commandment to multiply and replenish the Earth. Jeff and I haven't chosen to do that all on our own:-), but we have chosen to have three wonderful children that complete our lives more than we could have imagined! That is our heavenly Father's plan for us to have a family and to be together

forever with that family.

HAPPINESS FACTOR #3: MARRIAGE & FAMILY

This is a little out of order because I already talked about my children, but being married to Jeff has brought me so much happiness. Mr. Brooks said this about marriage;

"Marriage isn’t just associated with happiness -- it brings happiness, at least for a lot of us. One 2003 study that followed 24,000 people for more than a decade documented a significant increase in happiness after people married. For some, the happiness increase wore off in a few years, and they ended up back at their premarriage happiness levels.

But for others, it lasted as long as a lifetime".

In the Temple, on August 6, 1993, I was sealed to Jeff for Time and all Eternity. I believe that in the temple we can make covenants to our Heavenly Father that will bind us not only to one another on Earth but also in the life after we die. This principle of the gospel has meant so much for me in different ways through my marriage to Jeff. When things are great...it makes me think how grateful that we have each other forever and when things have been tough, this promise I have made has made me work harder to be a better person for Jeff and for myself so that we can be happy here on Earth and after we have left this life. How incredible it is to have this in my LIFE! I know that when I am done being tested here on Earth, I will still have Jeff to come home to and he to me. With this sealing, our children who were born after we were sealed are also sealed to us and this brings our family many promises and blessings as well. We are protected through our faithfulness as a family.

HAPPINESS FACTOR # 4: CHARITY

At the end of this section, Mr Brooks says: "In essence, the more people give, the happier they get". He speaks a lot about monetary charity. In the church, we have been asked to give ten percent of our income to the building up of the church and for those outside of the church also.

Here's a link to some of what the church does for outside the church and the United States. http://www.lds.org/humanitarianservices/0,19749,6208,00.html

I have a very strong testimony of this Tithing that we give. It blesses my life more than I think our money blesses others. It truly is something sent directly from our Heavenly Father.

Even more than money to the church, we give of our time and talents. We receive "callings" that the Lord asks us to do and do them without any compensation other than blessings that the Lord will send our way. Right now, I am currently serving as the Young Women's President. This organization has been created for Young girls ages 12-18.

http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,6821-1,00.html

It is an amazing program that I believe in. As I participated in this program myself as a young woman, it helped me to become who I am today. It taught me practical skills in life for my own personal life and for my home. It also taught me leadership qualities to help me live the life that I now live. and help to lead others. I hope and pray that I am doing the same for the girls that I serve. The main thing is, when I am serving these girls, I know I am also serving my Heavenly Father and he blesses me and my family as I serve. I feel of these blessings everyday. Every Sunday, we recite the Young Women's theme:

We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him. We will stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:Faith, Divine Nature,Individual Worth,Knowledge,Choice and Accountability,Good Works, and Integrity.We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.

I know that these things are true! What an incredible opportunity I have to serve!

HAPPINESS FACTOR #5: Freedom

Mr. Brooks speaks a lot about the freedoms that our country has because of the choices that our founding fathers made for our country and the morals that this country was founded on...so that we can have the freedoms that we enjoy. I would like to mention that I am so grateful for these freedoms. Especially the freedom that I have to worship how I please. I know that from the outside looking in, as a member of the church some people may think that some of my freedoms have been taken away through the things that are required of me to participate in or things that are required of me to refrain from. This is not true. The guidance that I have received through the gospel of Jesus Christ protects me from the things that could destroy me or destroy my family, therefore giving me MORE freedom to be happy and free from the worries that these things of the world could take away from me. Our Heavenly Father sent us to the Earth and gave us this great gift of agency! I am proud to practice that agency in the way that I know will make me happy and lead to my earthly progression and to gain my heavenly progression as well.

I consider myself happy! I do have a love for life, but especially have a love for MY life. I am forever grateful that I was raised with the principles that I was. I know that Jesus Christ lives and he loves me. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and I know that we have a prophet on this Earth today that speaks with Heavenly Father and our Savior and tells us the things that guide us to be better people every day. I know that my family is forever and what an amazing comfort that gives me each day. I know that as I live my life according to the things that I have mentioned above, that I can return to my Heavenly Father with my family and live forever with them someday.

These simple things make me happy!!!!!

If you would like to know more about the church, please check their website out.

It is AMAZING! www.lds.org