Spiritual Transmissions

Recently we've added a new car to the family, which also happened to be on my birthday. Within the first week of driving the car, I noticed the engine light was on. Not understanding that this was anything that needed to be dealt with immediately, under poor example of my father, I continued driving the car for the remainder of the week until I was ready to make the undesirable trek out to some mechanic. Soon after I had decided that it could wait, Caleb, my "older brother," informed me that it absolutely could not wait and that continuing to drive it could result in a serious problem. The next morning I proceeded to take the car into the distant dealership where it was discovered that there had been a recall on the car for the engine fan; but, fortunately, we got everything fixed and the car was fine. However, if I had continued to ignore the warning, something bad would have happened, and if the car would have even been salvageable, the cost would have been significantly more than it was to just have a check up. 

The same happens in our personal lives. We may not always need an overhaul of our spiritual transmissions, just as the car may not have needed serious work at this inspection, but in the long run, taking care of ourselves, making sure we're running smoothly, will yield a greater ability to deal with trials as they arise. 

However, it is also the same if we do not take care of our spiritual transmissions. When life gets out of control there is an unfortunate human habit to feel the need to regain control at all costs. When we lose control over a job, a competition, a family member, or a freedom, we often rebel against what we do have to feel powerful and secure. One consistent thing we as humans rebel against is faith, because it's the only thing we can completely control. No one can tell you what you believe, and no one else can truly know; just like how no one could control whether I took the car in for a check up. Although it may seem obvious that it was the smart and clear choice to take the car in, it was a far drive and a tedious wait, and because I dreaded that experience, I sought out to put off, and essentially rebel, the needed assistance. 

Then, to be told that I was wrong and that I needed to do something I did not want to do, I was not excited about it. Often we try to prove ourselves right in these situations. Unfortunately, most times we go from "making a mistake" into a full-blown rebellion. The person who fails to go to church on a particular Sunday goes from that to saying, "I don't need to go at all."  The married person who violates the marriage vow soon becomes the person announcing to the world, "It's not that big of a deal."  The man who is angry and resentful instead of opening himself to God tries to get the rest of the world stirred up as well. In normal life, there is usually no clear and present danger, like the possible overheating of the car. Normally, when we try to regain control we cannot see our consequences and how our actions will effect ourselves or those around us. This is especially true when rebelling against faith. Because it is the only thing we can grab hold of when everything else is unsteady, we illogically proceed to abandon the gospel because it is our own decision. Foolishly, we wholeheartedly reject what we have to feel power over the only thing left. 

Eventually, we must come to realize that life isn't going to go back to the way it was before the trial. Our purpose here is to accept that life isn't perfect and that we're here to make the best of what we have. We must realize that there is no purpose in fighting everything off because no matter how angry and resentful we make ourselves, it's not going to change the world. We have to understand that the consequences of rebellion of the gospel will never result positively. We must then choose to be happy and choose to do what makes us happy, because that is truly what we have control over. We must ask ourselves, "Do I have have faith in Jesus Christ?" Based on our true and personal answer, we must learn to move forward and be happy for ourselves. We must learn to proceed with what is best for us just as I proceeded with doing what was best for the car by taking it in. 

I have been through some difficult challenges, and there were a lot of times where the gospel could have helped, but because I wanted to feel in control, I chose to rebel against what I knew. However, I came to the realization that while I thought rebelling against the gospel gave me more control, it didn't make me happier or feel more secure. I realized that life isn't going to be the way it was before and that it was now my decision to choose to be happy again and to do what is best for me. I'm still here because I know it's good for me and I'm learning how to move forward.  I have faith that if I include Christ in my life, I will be happier than I would be without him.

Babe Cave

Since I was born, I've had my own room.  I have never had to share a room with anyone else, and was a little nervous coming to the dorms at BYU.  My first thoughts were, "oh my gosh, it's so small!" when I saw my new room; now a room that I would have to share with a complete stranger.  Downsizing is an understatement. How could I live in such a small space with another person?, especially one I didn't even know.

(this is the babe cave)

I am the luckiest person alive, though. I hadn't thought so before I met her, but every day since the day we moved in, I've been reminded of how much the Lord was looking out for me. Ashley Patricia Bulloch is my roommate and my best friend. We look nothing alike.  I am decently tall and have blonde hair, blue eyes, pale skin and slim to no curves.  Ashley is barely five feet tall with long brown hair, hazel eyes, olive skin, and has a booty that makes Sir Mix A Lot sing.  Despite these distinct physical differences, we are completely cloned on the inside.

We believe our souls were somehow split at birth or duplicated in transition, because there's no way two people could be so alike. We have almost identical likes and dislikes anywhere from style to allergies. While unloading our bags the day we moved in, we realized we had more than a couple matching outfits. Eating is a cinch together due to our taste pallets that read each other's minds.

Ashley and I are inseparable. We spend 24/7 together and never get sick of it. It's not an odd occasion if I wake up and Ashley has crawled into my bed in the middle of the night or vice versa. We take care of each other, build each other up, and have each other's backs.

It's odd, though, because we grew up very differently. Our struggles and victories have all been for different causes, but it has only brought us closer. By the time Thanksgiving break came along, we didn't want to leave each other. It's a blessing we only live an hour away from each other, because we spent three of the five days home together. Ashley and I have added each other to our families and joke often about how we won't get married and will just spend the rest of our lives with each other because we're happy enough now.

Even though I've only known Ashley for a short amount of time, it feels like I've known her for eternity. I'm so grateful for her and the example she is to me. I hope to always have her in my life. I love you Ashy!!

Marriage in the Constitution? (FMA)

The right to marry has been a heated debate topic in the United States for over a decade.  Alongside proposed amendments to ban marriage between races and to make divorce illegal, same-sex marriage, controversially, has continued to make headlines as a petitioned right.  Interestingly, the United State’s Constitution contains no mention of marriage or morality, enacting the Tenth Amendment, and pushing power towards the states to decide.  In the past, states have recognized marriage only between a man and a woman.  It has only recently arisen as a prioritized right to expand the rights of citizens to marry their same sex. 

To protect traditional and fundamental marriage laws, Ronnie Shows first introduced the Marriage Protection Amendment on May 15, 2002, which died in the Committee on the Judiciary.  Since, this amendment has been proposed four more times; the last occurring on June 28, 2013 by Tim Heulskamp, which was referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.  This proposal stated originally, “Constitutional Amendment - Declares that marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman.  States that neither this Constitution or the constitution of any State, nor State or federal law, shall be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups,” and has been overtime altered to state, “Constitutional Amendment - Marriage Protection Amendment - Defines marriage in the United States as consisting only of the union of a man and a woman.  Prohibits either the U.S. Constitution or the constitution of any state from being construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents of marriage be conferred upon any other union,” under the title of Federal Marriage Amendment (B1). 

The Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) is, “a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution which would limit marriage in the United States to unions of one man and one woman.  The FMA would also prevent judicial extension of marriage rights to same-sex or other unmarried heterosexual couples.  An amendment to the U.S. Constitution requires the support of two thirds of each house of Congress and ratification by three fourths of the states” (B1).  Because civil marriage in the United States is governed by state law, “each state is free to set the conditions for a valid marriage, subject to limits set by the state's own constitution and the U.S Constitution.  Traditionally, a marriage was considered valid if the requirements of the marriage law of the state where the marriage took place were fulfilled.  (First Restatement of Conflicts on Marriage and Legitimacy s.121 (1934))” (B1).

 However, because the states hold the power, “a state can refuse to recognize a marriage if the marriage violates a strong public policy of the state, even if the marriage was legal in the state where it was performed.  (Restatement (Second) Of Conflict of Laws § 283(2) (1971))” (B1).  This technical loophole in the rights of the states to govern citizens leaves room for states to decide whether same-sex marriage would violate such a public policy.  Historically, states, “exercised this ‘public policy exception’ by refusing to recognize out-of-state polygamous marriages, underage marriages, incestuous marriages, and interracial marriages” (B1).  Subsequently, these precedents have served as standard for nearly all same-sex court cases in states that have secured traditional marriage.  These states have the power to recognize same-sex marriage as illegal, even if the marriage was performed in a legal state. 

This confusion between the states provides sufficient means for a Constitutional law to be implemented.  Nearly all court cases in the United States debating the legality of same-sex marriage between states claim on the basis of due process.  However, the Constitution’s Full Faith and Credit Clause is what, “addresses the duties that states within the United States have to respect the ‘public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state’” (B5).  The contradicting and hypocritical powers given to, or taken from, the states maintain ample evidence that the Constitution needs to be amended.  Furthermore, same-sex marriage is currently one of the most divisive political issues within the United States.  For example, “[i]n November 2008, Californians passed Proposition 8, a referendum that removed the right to marry from same-sex couples who had been granted that right by the courts.  This result has been seen by the same-sex community as deeply degrading.  More recently, Iowa and Vermont have legalized same-sex marriage, the former through judicial interpretation of the state constitution, the latter through legislation” (B2). 

These propositions have only increased federal confusion upon the topic of same-sex marriage.  After voting in favor of traditional marriage, courts overturned the popular federal vote and legalized same-sex marriage within the states.  Controversially, the Supremacy Clause in the Constitution proclaims, “the United States Constitution, federal statutes, and treaties as ‘the supreme law of the land.’  It provides that these are the highest form of law in the United States legal system, and mandates that all state judges must follow federal law when a conflict arises between federal law and either a state constitution or state law of any state” (B3).  The Supreme Court, technically outlawing each state that disregards legal same-sex marriages from other states as illegal, has rejected the illegal theory of nullification of federal law. 

Implementing an amendment that secures marriage as only one legitimate union, one between a man and a woman, would dissipate all federal and state confusion.  Analogous to the Civil Rights movement, confusion after the Civil War of the rights of African-Americans led to the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments that explain in detail the rights of African-Americans within the federal government that the state governments were required to follow.  If the FMA were to be approved and added to the Amendments, marriage laws would be simply and straightforwardly stated, without any room for states to debate between each other.  Advocates of the FMA also argue that, “clergy are always among those entitled to perform legally binding marriages.  Religions may refuse to marry people who are eligible for state marriage and they may also agree to marry people who are ineligible for state marriage.  But much of the officially sanctioned marrying currently done in the United States is done on religious premises by religious personnel.  What they are solemnizing (when there is a license granted by the state) is, however, not only a religious ritual, but also a public rite of passage, the entry into a privileged civic status” (B2).

Opponents of the FMA claim a right to marry.  Referenced as one of the basic civil rights of man, same-sex advocates in a case, “Zablocki v. Redhail, recognize[d] the right to marry as a fundamental right for Fourteenth Amendment purposes, apparently under the Equal Protection clause; the Court states that ‘the right to marry is of fundamental importance for all individuals’ and continues with the observation that ‘the decision to marry has been placed on the same level of importance as decisions relating to procreation, childbirth, child rearing, and family relationships;’” or rights given to the states (B2). 

The argument for marriage to be considered as a fundamental right would completely dispel the point of getting married.  “If so, the state is not required to offer marriages at all. It’s only that once it does so, it must do so with an even hand. The talk of marriage as a ‘fundamental right,’ together with the fact that most of these decisions mingle equal protection analysis with due process considerations, suggests, however, that something further is being said… Would it violate the Constitution if a state decided that it would offer only civil unions and drop the status of marriage, leaving that for religious and private bodies?” (B2).  What, then, would be the point of marriage if any citizen of any status could unite with another and receive the benefits of a civil union? 

In conclusion, now is the time to pass such an amendment as the FMA.  To avoid the violence and harm that other civil rights cases have brought upon the United States, we must implement an amendment to the Constitution beforehand that enumerates the specific rights of marriage.  Therefore, it would be of sufficient merit to include the Federal Marriage Amendment to the Constitution to relieve confusion, contention, and complication.

Bibliography

1.     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Marriage_Amendment

2.     http://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/a-right-to-marry-same-sex-marriage-and-constitutional-law

3.     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supremacy_Clause

4.      https://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-constitution-amendments/proposed-amendments/

5.     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_Faith_and_Credit_Clause

BYUSA

The BYUSA website sums up what this program is:

"Why We Serve:

As a part of a BYU education, the Student Service Association’s vision is to be leaders centered on Jesus Christ, who contribute to the building of Zion communities which are united in heart and mind that there be no intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, or physically poor among us.

How We Serve:

BYUSA focuses the time, talents, and energy of hundreds of student-volunteers into six areas of service—Activities, Clubs, Communications, Involvement, Student Advisory Council, Student Honor. Volunteers in each area form committees to research, plan, and execute different programs, events, and initiatives aimed at serving the student body in specific ways.    

Who We Serve:

BYUSA is an organization run by students for students. The Homecoming Dances, Clubs Night, Involvapalooza, Honor Week, True Blue Tuesdays, and BYUnity are just a few of the major events and programs brought to you by BYUSA."

As a student who has always been heavily involved in leadership and community service, I knew BYUSA would be the perfect program for me to be involved in. After going through an extensive interview process, I have become and Event Lead, a role in which I plan, organize, and carry out student activities. Due to the fact that I have only been at BYU for not even a full semester, the president of student activities allowed me to start my activities second semester, so I could witness and learn how BYUSA works. 

The project that I'm volunteering my time for right now for is for all students and faculty at BYU. It's called Welcome Back Week, appropriately, since it takes place the first week back from winter break to welcome students back to campus and get everyone pumped up for a new semester. Exciting events (including free food) will take place every day of the week with a huge party on Friday night in the Wilkinson Center. Don't miss it!! It'll be the best week of your lives!

Thanksgiving Break

Oh my goodness!  It was so fantastic to be home!!!!!  I rushed straight from the plane to the warm sand at seven o'clock at night. Yes, warm sand at night.  As I left Salt Lake City it was a whopping 23 degrees and snowing, but as I exited the Los Angeles Airport the California breeze of 74 degrees rushed throughout my body.  I was home.  After my quick jump into the Malibu ocean, I hurried home, just a minute away from the sand, to see my beloved best friend, Bella.  Bella is my puppy, even though she's eight years old, a mom of seven, and only acts like a puppy in spurts of excitement.


My next request was take out from my favorite restaurant from back home: Thai Dishes.  I always order the same thing, pad thai and chicken fried rice, and it never gets old.  Following dinner I was able to see some of my friends and reminisce about how polar opposite our college experiences have been (I'm the only Mormon in the group).  The following days were filled mostly with beach time as I begged the sun to kiss my skin.  I guess I didn't plead hard enough because I've returned still white as snow.


Some of the highlights of my trip home were a day to Disneyland, attending the Rose Bowl to see UCLA face off to Stanford, Thanksgiving dinner (obviously), seeing the new Hunger Games movie, being back in my home ward, seeing all my friends, and the glorious weather all week long.  I couldn't have asked for a more perfect week.  Although I'm sad to be back in Provo for finals, only two and a half more weeks and I'll be back on the beach for Christmas!!  Study now, play later.  Wish me luck!

Work a Little Harder

I don't even think I went to the first week of school my junior year. Sick to my stomach and sick of my situation, I was confined to my bed, living off of antibiotics, day after day. "Gastroparesis," (a partial paralysis of the stomach) the doctors diagnosed, after what had seemed like endless tests over the past three and a half years. I had grown accustomed to the doctor's smell of rubbing alcohol and the sound of beeping monitors rather than the typical teenage experience. "You still go here?" acquaintances would ask when I was able to attend school.

"Sometimes!" I would joke back, making light of an unavoidable situation I was not fond of. Following the awkward reunion, most questioned my explanation; and although I knew the answer, "I just get sick a lot," was always my response.

However, I didn't simply just get sick frequently. I contracted this disease following sleepless months due to post-traumatic stress syndrome. I still imagine, as if it were yesterday, the lifeless body drifting in the depths of my pool, screams from every direction as I lifted this dripping, innocent, six-year-old girl's body onto the concrete and began CPR. "One, two, three," I counted aloud as I compressed on her weak, colorless chest. It wasn't working. After what had seemed like an eternity, I finally heard the sirens come closer for the help I had just recently called. "Get in the ambulance," I was told. Where was my family? I arrived at the hospital, shaking, struggling to catch my breath, awaiting the final verdict. The little girl was dead, on that glorious Sunday afternoon.

Our kind intention of helping the homeless—a good meal and clean clothes--turned into a tragic horror. I arrived home to my family as the sun was setting. They were not alone. Policemen, detectives, doctors, therapists, and more swarmed throughout the house investigating. It was endless. Closing my eyes meant revisiting the horror in a perpetual loop— sleep was not an option. My immune system weakened and my body broke down over the following months.

I waited for the doctor to return to my patient room, probably to tell me I had the flu again. Not only was I not getting better, I was getting worse. What was wrong with me? “Chronic pneumonia,” the doctors unsurely concluded. I quickly obtained a team of doctors that went straight into testing. I was admitted into the outpatient center in the hospital, a place I visited no less than twice a week. I soon said good-bye to my friends and teachers as I had to leave school in order to improve my failing heath. We expected my first round of blood tests to return quickly to confirm the pneumonic bacterium and uncover the reasons I wasn’t getting better. According to several blood examinations, my tests returned negative. My doctors couldn’t think of another explanation. 

At this point and for the next three years I would undergo countless tests, diets, surgery, medications, and probiotics, all of which didn’t work. The sound of beeping monitors and the smell of sterilized supplies became my home. We were running out of approaches when the bittersweet crisis arose. Finally, my doctors had discovered the root of my illness, Gastroparesis. Unfortunately, this disease is extremely rare and not curable. “Your health will continue to deteriorate,” my doctor confessed with heartbreak in her eyes, meaning that within months, I would need to choose between a feeding tube for the rest of my life, essentially confining me to life within a hospital, or slow starvation to death. I couldn’t accept this choice and decided with my parents to work harder and do more. 

After months of searching and excruciating illness we discovered a Gram-negative bacterium called Helicobacter pylori evolving within my stomach lining. With the presence of this infection, my Gastroparesis was likely to develop much quicker. Fortunately, there are procedures to terminate H. pylori, and I was freed. Following surgery and several weeks of heavy medications, my infection was gone and my Gastroparesis plateaued. Shocked by this result, my doctors applauded my diligence and explained that they had never seen nor heard of any Gastroparesis patient ever plateauing. 

Although simply getting out of bed every morning remained an enormous struggle, I learned to cope with my condition while I slowly recovered my losses. Pale from lack of sunlight and bruised from IVs, my mother encouraged me to fight. “This hour is hard, I know, but the next hour will be a little easier, and the next easier than before. Keep pushing and you will win,” she told me every morning, with tears in her eyes, as she could see my struggle. I am now able to live without the fears and the sadness, to look past the negative and find the positive, to "work a little harder to be a little better," as Gordon B. Hinckley wisely spoke, professing a motto I immediately adopted.

Throughout these trials I have learned to be resilient, to not allow obstacles to keep me down. Upon returning to my more normal schedule— school, tennis, church, and extracurricular activities— no one couldn’t believe my turn around. “Congratulations on your win,” my rival’s coach admitted to me with defeat, glaring down at my IV scared arms that held the CIF Championship trophy. Although the memory of that tragic accident and the resulting challenges have often been trying and painful, I would not be the young woman I am today without them. I have gained a better understanding of myself and have become a deeper, wiser, and more resilient individual.

Personal Narrative Reflection

My narrative didn't come as a surprise to me.  A prominent theme throughout my life has been perseverance through trials, on which I wrote my narrative.  I briefly described two scenes of significant challenges and showed how they have affected me (one pictured below).  I have written about these experiences before, so when the time came to write about obstacles that have taught me life lessons, I already had an idea.

After my very first surgery!

I enjoyed writing the narrative more than the other assignments in Writing 150 because the ideas and sentence structure came naturally.  I was able to use real dialog and evoke true feelings through diction that was actually used during these times.  This essay was easier than describing in detail a topic of research that I wasn't attached to.  I also appreciated the length of the narrative.  Five pages is a perfect size to get a theme across without droning on.

If I were to take this class again, I would prefer the same structure and timing of essays, except for the restaurant review project.  I believe it would be more beneficial to begin with the review because it allowed classmates to become friends and enjoy aspects of the class that we didn't before.  Other than that, I appreciated starting with a rhetorical analysis because it was similar to many of the essays I wrote at the end of high school; so I was familiar with the process.  I mostly enjoyed writing the research paper before finals because I had time to focus on it during a point of relaxation in my other classes.

Finally, now I can relax during Thanksgiving!! Thanks, Sister Steadman!