EVERYWHERE I GO, I am surrounded by nasty talk, syrupy talk, blatant rudeness, and artificial kindness. There is so much sadness, either exaggerated for attention, or hidden beneath a facade of prestige. The world is fake, vulgar, and miserable. It is sinful, obsessed with nothing but money, pornography, television, sex, cell phones, drugs, alcohol, current news and politics, and reputation.
It is in this dark and scary world that I must live.
But even in the blackest, most forsaken places on this planet, I have been secured by a bright and beautiful light. Reading my scriptures, praying to my Heavenly Father, sharing my testimony, spending time with my wonderful family and friends, writing in my journal, listening to wholesome music, praising the Heavens with my piano and my voice, loving and serving others, learning new things, exercising my talents, LIVING....despite the darkness that surrounds me, I am protected from its dangers as I live the principles of the gospel.
The school year has started again. Over the summer, I had forgotten just how terrible the world can be. But though I live in the world, I will not live OF the world (John 15:9). In class, when the students begin talking about or doing nasty things, I simply drain them out by listening to Jenny Phillips' album about living a virtuous and lovely life. I know that I am so weird, but I honestly do not care about what ANYONE thinks. All I know is that living the way I do makes me feel happy and secure.
I want to go to Brigham Young University in Idaho. I know it is not a very popular school, and that it's cheap and humble, but it's what I need. The rules are very strict: No shorts, no sandals, no bad language, curfews....a bunch of nerdy, psycho Mormons that are just like me. :) I will be so happy there. The Spirit is felt so strongly on the campus. Up in the mountains of little Rexburg, Idaho, a whole university is living the way I try to live everyday.
And I am doing all that is in my power to be worthy to enter into the Lord's temple someday, where I can make sacred covenants and be as far from the sins of the world as this earth permits.
There IS hope. There IS light. There IS happiness. In fact, there is so much good out there, it's almost unbelievable. All you have to do is LOOK for it.
"Seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you (Luke 11:9)."