Follow my adventures on my mom's blog!

Since I'm on a mission, I can't update my blog! To read about the exciting things going on in the Florida Orlando Mission, go to www.keelyjack.blogspot.com :) See you in 18 months!

"Hey Keely, what's up with that church you belong to?"

Whenever I talk to people about my religion, I'm not surprised if I get comments about how weird it is that I've never questioned my faith or that I'm stupid for blindly following my mom.

Stuff like this has always kind of bothered me because:

1. I've read the Book of Mormon

2. I've prayed to know if it is true

(and since Heavenly Father loves His children and answers their prayers)

3. I've received an answer that yes, the Book of Mormon is true.

No, I haven't been brainwashed. I've actively sought for the truth. Do you think I'd read a 531 page religious book from cover to cover just for fun? I read it the first time to learn if it was true, and I continue to read because it is.

Still don't believe me?

I'm giving up 18 months of my life to go tell people about it.

Missionaries and returned missionaries will tell you that 18 months flies by, but think about it. It's pretty long. How have you changed in the last year and a half? A year and a half ago, I was in high school. Hadn't yet placed 19th at Nationals. Hadn't yet swept a state championship. Hadn't yet been accepted to college.

I'm not leaving for a while, so let's round up to how I'll be different in two years.

I'll be 21 (yikes). I'll be only a sophomore in college (while all my friends are graduating. Double yikes). I'll be coming home from serving the Lord (yay. Double yay. Infinite yays).

So if you're wondering why I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or why I'll be serving an 18 month mission, know this:

The Book of Mormon is so true. Heavenly Father loves you so much. Jesus Christ is your Savior, Older Brother, and Best Friend. He will always be there for you. There is a prophet (just like Noah, Moses, Abraham, etc) living on the earth today who provides us with direction from God!

Knowing this has brought me so much joy. I firmly believe that everyone deserves to feel the happiness that comes from knowing this gospel.

Want to know more? Let me know and I'll be more than happy to help you out. :)

Blessed

On 1/22/13, I wrote this in my journal: "Sometimes, I get hit really hard with just how blessed I am."

And that's it.

I remember I wrote that one sentence after seeing a beggar once I exited the freeway. I think I meant to continue my entry after dance practice, but never did.

I've been thinking a lot about that entry since I've come to college. Because it still holds true.

I truly believe that I attend the best university out there. Sure, I get stressed out with school, but do you know how cool it is to go to a class and read the scriptures? It's pretty cool.

Also, I have really great roommates. There's six of us, and sometimes we don't all get along, but they have taught me so much more than I ever thought I would learn from them.

Imagine Dania's in here too (she's never home because she always has Miss Lehi stuff).

And in addition to my awesome roommates, I've made so many incredible friends. It's such a comfort to know that I have such a strong support system and that there will always be someone there for me whenever I need it.

And my family is great! Going home for Christmas break was fantastic. I honestly have no clue what I would do if I didn't have my family. I love them so much.

I mean, really? Look how precious we are. (Also my brother is a giant. Whatever.)

And I've started my mission papers! I get to serve the Lord and spread the gospel!!!!

And I'm alive. I'm healthy and I have food and I live in this beautiful dorm and I have enough money to buy the things that I need/want (thanks, Mom).

I've come to recognize that there are so many people in the world who are so unbelievably happy with way less than I have. Sometimes it's good to sit back and think about just how blessed I am.

Eternal Love/Of Challenges, Changes, and Children of God

One of the assignments for my writing class was a personal essay in which we were to address a time we realized that another person was a child of God. I chose to write about my father. My teacher decided to take this assignment a step further, requesting that we each make a poster relating to our topic and post it around BYU campus.

Here's my poster:

(Look how excited I am)

There are 9 posters hanging up in several different buildings on campus.

If you're interested in the essay that started it all, you can see it below or (to view in a separate window) by clicking here.

Of Challenges, Changes, and Children of God by keelyraye

This American Life

"This American Life is a weekly public radio show broadcast on more than 500 stations to about 2.1 million listeners." It is also available in podcast form. Many of the shows are very interesting. The three below are some of my favorites:

Middle School
It was a few years ago, but there's no forgetting middle school...

No Coincidence, No Story!
I think coincidences are the coolest things.

What Doesn't Kill You
I've always been fascinated by near-death experiences.

"I'm Sorry"

It's the first thing anyone says when I tell them my dad passed away. And I totally understand. It's the first thing I say when people tell me something devastating about their lives. But even if you really mean it, if you're truly sorry for their loss, just remember that it doesn't actually make anything better.

When I tell people about my dad, they suddenly treat me differently (even if it's only for a few moments). That was probably the thing I was most nervous about coming to college. I didn't want to be talking to someone new, have my dad be brought up somehow, and have that conversation screech to a halt as they began to pity me.

I appreciate your sympathy, and I'm not asking you to not say "I'm sorry", but know that it's okay if you ask questions. I don't mind talking about my dad. In fact, it helps. So don't be afraid to ask.

"Found Memories"

I recently watched the Argentinian film “Found Memories”. This movie documents the lives of many people in the village of Jotuomba, but focuses on Antonio and Madalena—elderly bread-makers—and Rita, a young photographer. Rita helps them document their daily routine: make bread, go to church, pray, eat dinner, play games. Along the way, they develop relationships and recognize special memories.

At first, I had some trouble connecting to this movie. I didn’t really feel like there was a lesson I could learn from it. After some thought, I realized that there are many lessons that I can draw from “Found Memories”.

Sometimes at college, it seems like our lives are changing so fast. One week, you’re passing a class; the next, you bombed a midterm. One week, you’re surrounded by strangers; the next, you have new friends. After a while, though, life can seem kind of monotonous. Day after day, we go to the same classes, interact with many of the same people, eat the same Rice-a-Roni. It can be easy to fall into a routine and forgot all of the experiences we’re having.

While my mom and I were driving to Brigham Young University so that I could start my freshman year, she reminded and advised me to take as many pictures as possible. I’ve never been a photographer by any means, but I did attempt to post a picture to Facebook every day that I was 16 (I failed). Despite this, I have heeded my mother’s advice and have begun to document my life here at this university.

Documenting my life through pictures allows me to hang on to the memories I’m making and keep them from fading. In the future, I will be able to look back at these photographs and remember what it’s like to be young, just as “Found Memories” explains.