Birthday Trip

Lora Cook asked me a few weeks ago if I wanted to spend a girls weekend in Utah. Of course it sounded fun to do, but wasn’t sure how it would all work out. Because I have married into a wonderful and awesome family, the child care issue was taken care of. The Baer’s agreed to watch kiddos because Jeff was also working that weekend. I’m sure they were exhausted by the end, but they are always so happy and willing to take them, which is such a blessing for me.

My friend Britany Peterson, who I went to high school with and was my freshman and sophomore roommate at BYU picked me up from the airport. I think it has been about 10 years since I saw her last! It was so much fun to catch up and she brought her 3 month old daughter, who was perfect, and we went to brunch and then she was very nice to drop me off at Uncle Steve’s house in Orem. We had a great talk and then it was so nice to chat with Uncle Steve. There are always so many people to see in Utah, but it was nice to just focus on a couple people rather than just not seeing anyone.

Uncle Steve took me to Lora’s office at the Kennedy Center on BYU campus and then I took her car to the temple. I was so happy to be able to do a session since it’s always hard to get in with the kids and distance. There was also a new temple video which was nice to see. Plus, for so many years that was my temple so it was nice to go back.

After the temple we got some Café Rio and then headed home to Lora’s for a movie. It was getting pretty late and at one point in the movie there was a knock on the door and a doorbell rang. However, it sounded like the doorbell was ringing at Lora’s house. She got up to check and came back in with someone. It was so late (around 10:30) that I was confused who would be there and who this friend was that Lora was introducing me to. It was a little dark but when I saw the person clearly I was absolutely flabbergasted to see my mom!!!! She and Lora had arranged the surprise and they couldn’t believe they had both kept the secret. I must say it was the best surprise I have had in I don’t even remember and I was thrilled to see my mom in her house. She could only stay until the next night, but having a day with just the three of us was the best!

We all stayed up way too late talking and finishing the movie, but I was just so happy for how everything was turning out.

The next day we had pedicures at a school, but they were salon pedicures so we got the royal treatment. We had so much fun chatting while the pedicures took place. Next we went to the Carl Bloch, Heinrich Hoffman, and Frans Schwartz exhibit at BYU’s Museum of Art. I was not anticipating it to be so profound for me, but it really was kind of life changing. We decided to rent iPad’s that have additional commentary, videos, music, conference talks, and visuals of where the painting is housed. BYU and the church in general always do such a top notch job. I was completely moved by some of the commentary that went along with the paintings. It made me look at the paintings differently and I truly felt closer to my Savior after I finished the exhibit. It was an emotional experience for me.

I especially loved "Agony in the Garden" by Frans Schwartz because some commentary mentioned how this painting shows the angel holding the Savior. Physical touch is so important and conveys caring, understanding, compassion and even the Savior, in all His power, needed such love at this grueling time.  I listened to a "Where Can I Turn For Peace" by the tabernacle choir as I looked at this painting and tears came to my eyes. I thought of how only through the Savior can we find peace, lasting peace that satisfies our soul and calms our spirits. And we can find this because of what he suffered for us, he truly understands our trials and challenges and chose to experience them for us. He mourns with us, has joy with us, and he is the perfect friend. But above all, he saved us and saves us as we turn to him.

"In Him All Things Hold Together" Elder Neal A. Maxwell
As signified by Jesus’ personal resurrection and the recognition of him by friends, immortality is not merely being one droplet in some floating sea of cosmic consciousness! Resurrection is not being a mere molecule in an unremembering cloud of drifting molecules! His resurrection was personal and recognizable. So will ours be! Did not the resurrected ancients go into Jerusalem and appear unto many?

Oh, how we adore Jesus for his atonement! For his free gift of immortality to all! Consider for a moment, how would we regard Christ without the reality of his atonement and resurrection? How would we regard the Sermon on the Mount without the resurrection of the sermon giver and eventually all of us? Without the reality of God’s plan of salvation and Jesus’ atonement, how could the meek truly inherit the earth? How could the pure in heart really see God? (See Matthew 5.)

No wonder Paul wrote of Christ, “in him all things hold together” (Revised Standard Version, Colossians 1:17). When, collectively or individually, brothers and sisters, things seem to fly apart for us at times, what fitting imagery: “In him all things hold together”! Given the centrality of the doctrine of resurrection, the Restoration has as one of its main purposes to witness not only of Jesus’ resurrection, but that of all mankind.

All the cumulative weight of our sins—the whole human family—fell upon him. He, and he alone, bore them! Thus he is able to say, “I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God” (D&C 76:107; 88:106). This would include all the penalties that a God who cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance would require (see D&C 1:31). Could there be any wrath more fierce than divine wrath? Especially as Jesus encountered cumulative, mortal grossness including the vilest of all human sins? Jesus bore them.

And this "Portrait of Christ" by Heinrich Hoffman is poignant to me because of what President Monson said: “I love that painting. I feel strength in having it near me. Look at the kindness in those eyes. Look at the warmth of expression. When facing difficult situations, I often look at it and ask myself, ‘What would He do?’ Then I have tried to respond accordingly.”

"The Rich Young Ruler" by Heinrich Hoffman had some commentary from a talk by Elder Eyring that I enjoyed. The ruler had wealth and that was a gift from God. When we contemplate our own gifts, are we willing to give them away through service or even just taking the first step, through sincere prayer, to discover those gifts and how to use them?

Elder Eyring, "Help Them Aim High"

God knows our gifts. My challenge to you and to me is to pray to know the gifts we have been given, to know how to develop them, and to recognize the opportunities to serve others that God provides us. But most of all, I pray that you will be inspired to help others discover their special gifts from God to serve.

I promise you that if you ask, you will be blessed to help and lift others to their full potential in the service of those they lead and love

I love Carl Bloch's "Healing of the Blind Man" and the talk "You Are My Hands" by Elder Uchtdorf. 

When I think of the Savior, I often picture Him with hands outstretched, reaching out to comfort, heal, bless, and love. And He always talked with, never down to, people. He loved the humble and the meek and walked among them, ministering to them and offering hope and salvation.

That is what He did during His mortal life; it is what He would be doing if He were living among us today; and it is what we should be doing as His disciples and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

There are so many more things I could write about the exhibit, but it was very moving and one of the highlights of my trip.

After the art we had lunch at Zupa’s, which I forgot how much I love! Then we went to see a play at Hale Center Theater called, “Kiss and Tell.” It was set during WWII and apparently Shirley Temple starred in the movie but it was a fun and funny show. The little boy in it reminded us so much of Brigham, which made him even funnier.

Then my mom was off to the airport. It of course felt like a short trip, but oh how glad I am that she made it work! It really was the perfect day and I couldn’t be any more grateful that it happened.

That night Lora and I ate at a delicious crepe place called It’s a Wrap. We then headed to watch “Book Thief” at the dollar theater. I just love dollar theaters! Even popcorn is a dollar, it’s awesome! We were pretty tired after that so we just headed home.

The next day at church was so nice to have a little break from my own weekly responsibilities and to just enjoy all the lessons and classes. I felt a wonderful spirit and learned many things that I hope to incorporate into my life. We talked about the creation and I was inspired as we discussed that all things were created spiritually before physically. Someone commented that we can prepare our day spiritually through prayer before we start the day. Another comment was that God left some things undone in his world, oil in the fields, songs unsung, unwritten, white canvasses, etc so that we could experience the joy that comes from creating and discovering. At the end of the creation God said that it was good, which means we can appreciate and reflect on our creation and acknowledge the accomplishment. Also, when we look at the creation as a whole, it should give us a reverence and respect for all things of the earth. All things have a spirit and nature can be spiritual and bring us closer to God.

In Relief Society the teacher shared an experience about adopting a baby and never getting the answer “no” so they moved forward. However, after 3 days, the birth parents decided to keep the baby. This was devastating, but she felt a comfort later that that child was not meant to come home with her. Someone asked if she ever wondered why God wouldn’t have just told her the answer rather than making her go through all of that, she said she still doesn’t know. I had a distinct impression that sometimes the things we do are not for our own purposes, but to help orchestrate someone else’s life. Maybe the birth mom needed to go through that and lose her baby before realizing she wanted to keep her. I shared this thought and later another sister came up to me and told me she had that same impression so strongly and was so happy I shared it. It’s a great feeling to be touched by the spirit and to know that you are being edified and receiving revelation.

We had a little break at home with rest and food and then went to temple square. My mom recommended seeing the model of the Salt Lake temple which was neat. We walked around and then headed to the airport. On the airplane I sat next to someone who I just felt like we’d have a gospel conversation. I had already read my scriptures for the day, but I pulled them out wondering if they might start up a conversation. They did and he mentioned that he had gone to Temple Square the day and heard the choir sing. He was very skeptical of organized religion, but it was still nice to share my testimony and to have the opportunity to share my beliefs. I am reading Clayton Christensen’s book about missionary work so I am very missionary minded right now.

Overall it was such a wonderful and perfect trip and just what I needed. I left feeling more motivated and determined to be a better person and I felt an abundance of the spirit.