A little bit of silly and a little bit of serious in honor of this Sabbath day

You guys are all amazing! Thank you for all your love, support and understanding! I realize we are all in the same boat in trying to figure out life and finding joy! Sometimes I think I am following in the footsteps of Jon Gosselin in some sort of mid-life crisis. If you see me with extra piercings, whining about losing my 20’s or driving a fancy car I can’t afford, do not hesitate to have an intervention for me! You can even invite A&E!!

Someone had this bright idea to pop open ‘just one more Diet Coke’ and what to do you know? Hello, midnight and Advil PM! I figured while I wait for my magic pill to kick in, I’d do a little writing!

What if Jane Austen was a ‘Mormon’? If you think about it, the traditions of her time aren’t all that different from the traditions of even a modern day Latter-Day Saint. Sure, women can have a career, actually pick the man she will marry and do more than sit around playing cards and reading, but marriage is still very important, in fact it often seems that is the only reason to do what we do-so we can take our love to the temple and be married for time and all eternity. Right? Obviously, it doesn’t always happen that way but that seems to be a major goal.

So, is it all that different from Sister Austen’s time? You tell me. I took the first page of Pride and Prejudice and changed it up a bit to be like a modern-ish Mormon Bro. and Sis. Bennett just for kicks. Have a look-see:

~It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a young return missionary in possession of a scholarship to BYU must be in want of a wife.

However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a single’s ward, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding co-eds, that he is considered as the rightful property of her and, hopefully, not one of her roommates.

"My dear Bro. Bennet," said his wife to him one day, "have you heard that Hyrum Marriott is home from his mission?"

Bro. Bennett replied that he had not.

"But he is," returned she; "for Sis. Long has just been here and she told me all about it."

Bro. Bennet made no answer.

"Do not you want to know where he is going to school?" cried his wife impatiently.

"You want to tell me and I have no objection to hearing it."

This was invitation enough.

"Why, my dear, you must know, Sis. Long says that he has served his mission honorably in the north of England and because of that the Lord has blessed him with a full ride scholarship to BYU! Could he be more perfect for our Emma?

"Is he the Elder’s Quorum President or Sunday School teacher?"

"Oh! Elder’s Quorum President, my dear, for sure! A return missionary going to BYU to be a dentist, no less! What a fine thing for our Emma!"

"How so? how can it affect her?"

"My dear Bro. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying her, living in Herriman and giving me 7 grandchildren!"

"Is that his design in going to the same school as Emma?"

"Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely he received revelation that he would meet his wife there and, obviously, that is Emma. We must take him some banana bread to welcome him home and remind him of his future wife."~

So, what do you think? Maybe a little cheesy but it made me giggle!

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On a more serious note….

I was watching Elder Holland’s Conference talk tonight (somehow I missed it and my bff told me it HAD to be watched, not just read. So, I watched it here. Seriously, you should, too!) and it was so powerful. It really had me thinking how much I take the Book of Mormon for granted. It is a book I know to be true and yet I don’t read it as much as I should lately.

C Jane did a post on her blog about how she feels about the Book of Mormon and when she first discovered it was true for herself and I thought I would do the same.

I grew up in the church and, of course, took it for granted. I never really read the whole Book of Mormon until I was about 19. I had come to know these more than awesome people from a trip to Mexico on a short bus and they showed me where joy came from.

I started reading the Book of Mormon every night, no matter how late it was, I read some. I made it through the last part of 2 Nephi and the Isaiah (huh?) chapters, I made it through the wars of Alma. I made it all the way to the end where Moroni gives his great promise. And I knew it was true.

All the other times I tried to read it I was waiting for the angels to come and witness to me that what I was reading was true. When the heavenly trumpets didn’t sound, i would give up. But this time I realized that the answer for me wasn’t this huge momentous moment. It was the feeling I had each time I read it. It was the joy I had in my life that I never fully had before. It was the excitement I felt in opening the pages of that sacred book each night. It was the opening of my mind to understanding and enlightenment of God’s purpose of this life, Christ’s atonement and sacrifice for me. Little ole’ dorky Mindi. I didn’t need the angels-I had joy!

I’ve lost some of that these days, feeling a little beaten up by life and just plain old tired. But after listening to Elder Holland’s testimony tonight. I am recommitted. I want those feelings more prevalent in my life.

I know that is what I am craving and I’m beginning my feast today! Wanna join me?!