True Beauty

Hi everyone! Normally I would probably talk about General Conference and my thoughts on it from this past weekend, but today I want to talk about something different. I want to discuss true beauty.
     Being in high school can be a pretty challenging time for teenagers, especially teenage girls. You want to fit in, have a lot of friends, and have boys like you and ask you out on dates. The truth is, most of this doesn't happen for a lot of people. It's taken me until my senior year to figure out that those things aren't all that important to me and in the long run. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we are supposed to stand out from the rest of the world and be different, not fit in. And the number of dates you have or friends you gain don't determine your worth. And that is where I want to start today: our TRUE worth in the world we live in.
     In today's society, there is a twisted conception of what beauty is. Magazines portray it as the skinny, tall, exotic girls that are flawless. In reality, nobody is like that. Many times, the people on the front of those magazines don't even exist! They take the eyes of one person, the nose from another, etc. to create the "perfect" person. But that's not how it works. Heavenly Father has a much more correct way of viewing beauty than any person in this world can imagine. He doesn't look on the outward appearances, but on the heart. He cares about how we treat people, what we say, and our personalities.
     I don't know if this is just a Montana thing, but most seniors in high school get senior portraits. My twin sister and I recently had ours done and we just saw the results. All of the pictures were un-edited and showed our true beauty and personalities. I, like the majority of women in the world, know every single one of my faults and imperfections, and it was interesting for me to take a step back and try and see those pictures how my parents and others see me. We all have a natural beauty about us that doesn't come from makeup, or clothes, or social status. It comes from our spirits and personalities-the things that make us US.
   Sorry that that was a really long post, but I thought it was a worthy topic to discuss. I hope you found something in there that can help you, and remember that you are a child of God and you are created the way that He wants you to be. You are already perfectly beautiful to him. And His opinion is the only one that truly matters. 

Heavenly Father's Watchful Care

     Until this summer, I don't think I've ever know just how much Heavenly Father watches out for each of us. That all changed a little over a month ago, on the first day of my summer vacation (June 4th). Now, for you to truly understand this story, you need to know a little bit about where I live. My family and I live on a 2.5 mile long dirt road a few minutes outside of Billings, and one part of it is winding across the top of hills, meaning there are drop offs on both sides of the road for a quarter mile. These have never scared me when I've driven since I see them every day. And now, for the story...

     It's the week before girl's camp for the Billings stake, and my two sisters and I are on the way to help our ward leader get ready for camp. After a crazy morning filled with excitement, chores, and getting ready, we are finally ready to go. But we are 1/2 hour late! In reality, this wasn't a big deal, but we wanted to get there as soon as possible. We rushed out of the house, hopped into our '96 Subaru Outback, and took of down the road about 5 mph faster than we souls have been going. I was driving. I didn't really think about my speed because Katie and I have driven fast on the dirt road before, and nothing has ever happened. When we reached the last 1/4 mile of the dirt road, we met the s turns, going a little faster than we should have. As I started to turn, I knew I was going too fast, and I could feel the car start to slide to the right. I tried to correct the slide, and ended up sliding the other direction! Both times we were so close to going off one of the drop offs that lined the road! As I tried to come out of the second slide, I over corrected, and we started to roll!!!! All I could think about was that We were going to die, and it was all my fault. Then the car came to a stop. Upright. Facing the road. I got out of the car to see the damage, and noticed that we had landed on the one part of the side of the road that we could land and survive. This was a miracle! We were about a yard from one drop off, and a few feet from another. And as my sisters got out of the car, we checked for injuries. The worst was an inch long scratch that was bleeding slightly. 

    Now, when people roll a car, most don't walk away, let alone with just scratches. And it wasn't by chance that we landed where we did. Heavenly Father was watching out for us that day. Now here's my final thought: Heavenly Father ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS answers our prayers. Not alway when we want. Not always with the answer we want. And not always in the way we think he will. But he will answer them. :)

~Emmalee

Picture That!

I am one of those people that loses everything! Usually in a very obvious place... and I find it like the day after I need it. I'm also one of those people that has a little clutter in my room, and I can find everything, but when I pick it up, I forget where everything is:)  I am in a very cool photography class, which focuses on using film, as part of my school classes. There is one assignment that is very difficult, especially for us students that have never used a film camera before this semester. I had to retake my pictures today because not a single one on my original film strip were even usable. So, my friend Kenna and I were in Pioneer Park, a park right behind Senior High School, and were taking pictures. I ran out of film on my roll, so I took that roll out and put a fresh one in. I put the first in my pocket to develop when I returned to class. After taking a few more pictures, Kenna and I returned to the photography class. Upon returning, I tried to take the film out of my pocket, but I couldn't find it!!! So, I   went back outside, hoping to maybe, possibly, find the missing roll of film. I figured it was a hopeless cause, because the park is huge and the film canister isn't that noticeable in the grass. I was looking... and looking.... and more looking.... and couldn't find it anywhere! And then: I saw it! A black thing sitting in the grass a few yards away, and it looked just like my film canister! When I reached it however, disappointment set in when I realized that it wasn't a canister, but a leaf. Yep. I was about to give up, when I decided it would be a good idea to say a quick prayer, asking Heavenly Father if He could help me to find the canister. I wasn't even sure if I would! But, when I looked up a few moments later, I saw it: clear as day, it was 100% my canister!       Moral of the Story: Heavenly Father definitely does hear and answer every single prayer of ours, no matter how silly or dumb the request is. Also, if you try your best, Heavenly Father will help you. Give it a try! I dare you:) 

The Key to Playing Piano

Today was the district music festival in Billings. I was involved in accompaniment for a couple of pieces, and played a duet with my wonderful twin sister, Katie. Before going to perform, though, I was nervous to perform, like always! haha. I decided it might be a good idea to see if I can find a scripture to help me feel relaxed about performing, but I was like 'Yeah right, there will TOTALLY be a scripture on playing the piano-NOT!' But to my great surprise, I opened up to Alma 32:9, which says:                                                                                                                             

  *"But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of the soul."*                                                                            

I guess it's true: If you are having ANY problems or ANY questions, you can always find an answer in the scriptures!:) After finding that scripture, I felt much more comfortable with performing and not so nervous. I challenge you to take any questions you have to the Lord and the scriptures, and I promise that you fill receive answers.