Today is my last real class of freshman writing! My next class is the final, and after that, I'm done! For our finals, we are each giving five to seven minute speeches on a topic we've learned this semester in class. So far we have heard from several people who have spoken on procrastination, something I think everyone struggled with on our blog posts.
For my speech, I have decided to speak on Elder Bednar's advice to flood the earth with the Book of Mormon, a topic we focused on for several class periods, and a topic I have previously written about on my blog. Elder Bednar gives a powerful talk on the importance of using social media correctly, which is why we created these blogs as a class, hoping to spread good example and a positive word.
I'm thankful for this blog, more than I thought I would be, because I have received uplifting comments that help me notice that my example can really make a difference. I have read my blog posts to my friends and family and have become more alert to positive experiences as I needed more to post about. Thank you Sister Steadman for a great semester and wish me luck on finals!!
Friday, December 5, 2014
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Sugar, Butter, and Flour
My first paying job was cashier at a local bakery, K Bakery, in my home town. I was hired to run the front and ring up the customers on their way out; basically to stare at and smell fresh baked goods as they were placed on display. Temptations galore! Refraining from snacking on broken cookies, extra frosting, and bread crumbs was the largest challenge. 
The owner, Kim, whom the bakery is named after, specializes in fantastic cakes, while the rest of her staff covers anything from delicious brownies to cupcakes, lemon bars, cookies, pies, or fresh breads. If the front was slow and the kitchen needed help, I was often allowed to slice, frost, or top (the most exciting part of the job).
During my breaks, I would sneak into the back to conjure up my own creations, make my manager taste them, and have him constructively criticize my work. Eventually I developed some skills, and my job began to require more work from me in the back. My boss slowly allowed me to bake more and more. I started with cinnamon rolls, the simplest recipe, and eventually graduated onto some of the most complex goods, even assisting wedding cakes!
I'm grateful for the knowledge I've gained during this job and the experience it has given me. If you're ever in need of something sweet, now you know where to come!!
Who Owns What?
What is conquered also belongs to the
conquerors. The human nature of survival
of the fittest doesn’t, and shouldn’t, change over ancient art. James Cuno, a historian and curator, argues
that, “art is the common heritage of humanity, and that seeing art objects
through a nationalist framework prevents us from a fuller understanding of the
past and present,” (B2). The fact that
former colonial countries hold ancient civilization’s artifacts tells a story
of the history of the world. Ancient
Greece, for example, was “defeated and absorbed by
the Romans in 146 BC, bringing an end to the independence of all of Greece,”
(B3). Italy now houses Grecian art,
signifying their conquest and the intermittence of cultures. Though some countries may argue that these
artifacts are “key parts of their cultural identity,” being overtaken by a
neighboring country is a defining part of their cultural history (prompt). The conquerors of countries defeated their
opponents fairly and are rewarded with the land and all that comes with
it. There are no “sore loser laws” in
war. 
A creative way to solve the
debate over legitimate ownership of ancient artifacts and art would be through
appeasement of economic resources.
Although countries claim artifacts were previously bought legally, if
there is no proof upheld, the country that holds the art should pay decent reparations. This way the art’s country of origin can be
economically sustained as they would if they were in possession of the artifact
and the conquerors of the art can keep what they have. “The
burden of discovery will usually weigh more heavily on the purchaser, who, it
is assumed, has the sophistication and resources to authenticate the history of
a purchase,” otherwise the integrity should lie with the current owner, (B4). This would also appease both sides because
despite having to pay off the opposing side, countries that sustain the
artifacts benefit in the long run as art becomes appreciated more overtime
rather than depreciated and the original countries receive money and
credit. Bibliography
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Thanksgiving Bouquets
During Thanksgiving break, I was assigned create floral bouquets for my Thanksgiving dinner table and take pictures for my Floral Design class here at BYU. To
complete this assignment, the first thing I did was go downtown to the Los
Angeles Flower Mart, the largest wholesale flower district in the United
States. Just a few minutes from home,
the LA Flower Mart was the perfect place to gather my materials. Covering six blocks of the crowded downtown
vicinity, I had endless flowers to choose from.
For my bouquets, I chose a variety of colors, textures, and sizes. I included white and purple daisy mums, orange
chrysanthemums, green trick carnations, curly willows, spider mums, billy
buttons, many types of foliage, and more.
This
assignment not only gave me a chance to practice my new skills, but I was also
able to spend quality time with my mother.
My mom worked in a floral shop throughout her teenage years and was
thrilled to explore the flower mart with me.
When we returned home with all our supplies, she was so excited she made
a bouquet herself! It reminded me of a video we watched in my Floral Design class of a son and father designing together. We were able to give each other tips (and
steal flowers from each other’s piles when the other wasn’t looking).
Finally, I was able to impress my family and friends with my new knowledge on flowers. While at the flower mart, I pointed out almost every single flower and my new knowledge on flowers. While at the flower mart, I pointed out almost every single flower and was able to identify the common, genus, and species name. After the bouquets were displayed throughout my house, I was able to describe the flowers and techniques I learned and used to everyone at the Thanksgiving table. I was surprised how impactful little techniques can be. Overall, this assignment was fun and gave me new experiences that I won't forget!
The Mission of Jesus Christ
Each
person has a purpose on this Earth.
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are included in that every dissention
from Heaven to the Earth is for a reason.
The condescension of God, although different in purpose, has the same
meaning: God voluntarily leaves His throne in the Heavens to complete a mission
on Earth. There are few instances in
which the condescension of the Godhead is described in scripture. In 1 Nephi 11:11, Nephi explains, “it was the
Spirit of the Lord; and he spake unto me as a man speaketh with another.” This is the Holy Ghost in the form of a human
on Earth. Nephi follows with the condescension
of Heavenly Father that the Holy Ghost reveals unto him. God humbly leaves his exalted position in
Heaven to impregnate the mortal Mary.
“Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God,
after the manner of the flesh. And… I beheld
that she was carried away in the Spirit” (1 Nephi 11:18-19). Jehovah, the Son of God, is born soon after
as Nephi describes the Virgin Mary holding her half mortal, half heavenly
child. The condescension of God and His
Beloved Son are God’s gifts to his children.
“And behold how great the covenants of the Lord, and how great his
condescensions unto the children of men; and because of his greatness, and his
grace and mercy, he has promised unto us that our seed shall not utterly be
destroyed, according to the flesh, but that he would preserve them; and in the
future generations they shall become a righteous branch unto the house of
Israel” (2 Nephi 9:53). This is the
purpose of the dissention of the Godhead.
The mission
of Jesus Christ, His purpose to descend from His Heavenly throne, is one of
unconditional love. “Some acknowledge that ‘Jesus was a great teacher.’ Others
say, ‘He was a prophet.’ Others simply do not know Him at all. We should not be
totally surprised.” (Elder Russell M. Nelson, The Mission and Ministry of Jesus
Christ, Ensign April 2013). Elder Nelson
continues, “His… objective we know as the Atonement. This was His magnificent
mission in mortality” (Nelson). Through
suffering in the garden of Gethsemane, His crucifixion, and His resurrection
from the tomb, the Lord completes His divine mission. The Lord explicitly states His mission
statement through the process of the Atonement: ‘I came into the world to do the
will of my Father, because my Father sent me.’ ‘And my Father sent me that I
might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the
cross, that I might draw all men unto me’” (3 Nephi 27:13-14). The purpose of Jehovah’s time on Earth was to
bring opportunity of infinite and eternal blessings (see Alma 34:10). The Atonement was not only to, “provide for
the resurrection and immortality of all humankind, but it was also to enable us
to be forgiven of our sins—upon conditions established by Him” as demonstrated
in Christ’s ministry in the Americas; “Thus
His Atonement opened the way by which we could be united with Him and with our
families eternally. This prospect we esteem as eternal life—the greatest gift
of God to man” (see D&C 14:7; Nelson).
His mission was to provide opportunity for happiness, through his
suffering and love. The Atonement is
Christ’s example, “that ye should do as I have done,” which is strife to
perfection in exaltation (John 13:15, 14:6).
His mission is defined through everlasting love, for His Father and for
His brethren.
The mission of Christ through the process of
the Atonement is essential to my mortal life.
Without the Atonement, I would have no opportunity to live with my
Heavenly Father again. Repentance
through mercy and love define life as a mortal being. No one is perfect, and without the sacrifice
from Christ, no one could ever be. This
means that I must also sacrifice and humble myself unto the Lord as Jesus has
done. I must follow his example and do
as He has done. There are almost daily
instances in which I fail to emulate the example of Christ. However, I know that through Christ’s
Atonement that I can repent and be forgiven, to have a renewed opportunity to
achieve eternal life. Through times of
trial and hardship, I can especially remember the importance of the Atonement
in my life. A specific experience in
which I was struggling with my health for many years allowed me to focus on the
essential aspects of Christ’s mission in my life. Though I was bitter and unhappy with my
circumstances, I was able to remember Christ’s example while being tortured by
His peers on Earth. It was helpful for
me to remember that He has felt my pains and suffered so much more than I could
imagine for myself. It was also
inspiring for me to remember that He overcame it all with literal
perfection. What a priceless gospel that
I have been taught. The mission of Jesus
Christ, to me, means hope. Hope that I
can overcome my challenges, hope that I can be forgiven for my transgressions,
and hope that I can one-day return to live with my Heavenly Father and be
perfected in Him. The Atonement of
Christ has filled me with love and given me hope that I can succeed as a
daughter of God.
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