Testimony

I thought that today, I would write my testimony on here. And actually, I wrote this in January (which is before Handmaidens of Virtue began). Alright, here you go.

I know that God and Jesus Christ live and that with the Holy Ghost They form the Godhead. I know that Jesus suffered for my sins and that He knows exactly what I feel like all the time. I know that the Holy Ghost is real and that he comforts, gives revelation, and prompts, among many other things. I know that if I always do God's will, I can go to be with Him after I die and I will be able to see all of those people in heaven who have gone before me. I know that the scriptures are true. I know that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon. I know that he saw the angel Moroni and talked to him and held the golden plates. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love me and that Jesus is my brother and that I am a daughter of God. I know that I can become a Maiden of Virtue if I strive to change. I know that I can fulfill my role on earth as a mother and all else that I am destined to be if I fight for what's right and endure to the end. I know that my parents love me and that I can be with them in the Celestial Kingdom one day. I know that I have trials for a reason and that if I overcome them I will be made stronger. I know that all women are beautiful. I know that the worth of souls is GREAT in the sight of God. I know that everyone on earth is a child of God, placed on earth in their certain time to fulfill their purpose. I know that if I love my neighbor, they will eventually love me back. I know that my children are waiting in heaven to be born. I know that if I choose carefully and live up to my own potential, I will marry a worthy, wonderful man in the temple. I know that if I help my friends be lifted up, and serve others all I can, I will be doing what Jesus would do. I know that I can shine if I repent for my mistakes and try harder and lift up my light for all to see.

Amory

Opposition In Life

I've been learning tons lately, about things in school, of course, but also just tons and tons of stuff about life.  It's so perplexing, and sometimes frustrating.  I find myself wishing that everyone in the world had the exact same ideas about everything, and asking questions about why it can't be that way.  If we all thought the same way, then everything would be just fine, right?  Trillions of problems would be fixed.   I ask why I can't erase all of the world's opposition.  Then I remember that we were all sent here to be tested.  Without any opposition, there is no test of worthiness, because there is nothing to test us with.  Everyone would just be perfect; and that perfection is Satan's plan.  So I just answered my own questions.  That doesn't mean that I like opposition.  But I will do everything I can to erase as much of it as possible, get rid of anything I can, and then avoid what I can't get rid of.  I make it sound simple.  Actually, I think it could be simple if everyone in the world cooperated.  But that won't happen.  Like, ever.  So it's not as simple as it sounds.  I'll work on that.  And at the same time, I'm keeping my sights focussed on the temple.

Amory

Messages for Inspiration

Go to youtube and watch any video by MormonMessages or MormonMessagesYouth.  Then just watch them from there.  I was feeling kind of lame today, and out of it, and just overall scattered (and maybe even a little grumpy).  I was only on my email for a couple of minutes when an email from the MormonMessages people popped up, containing videos that I could watch that might help inspire or lift me up.  No sooner than I clicked on one of the videos did I find myself watching more and more of them as they showed up next to the one I was watching, and wanting to put all of them on here.  If you don't have youtube, go to lds.org.  They have some videos on there, too.

That's all this time.  Thanks for reading!

Amory

Simply Flattering

Okay, so I read this post on the Handmaidens of Virtue website.  They were asking for lyric submissions for an anthem for the Summit in July.  No sooner did I read the post than I wrote three verses and a chorus and sent them in.  It took me ten minutes.  That was a couple weeks ago.  My awesome composer friend also wrote a song to go with the lyrics.  I found out yesterday that they had chosen two sets of lyrics, mine and someone else's, and that they would also be using my friend's notes to go with my lyrics, and they would put finishing touches to it and such.

Pause..........

AAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I couldn't believe it!  My lyrics had actually been chosen!!!!!!!  I am so excited, and so flattered that they even considered mine!  That's the first time that anyone has actually really liked something I wrote; and used it for something important!  :D  I am very excited to go to the Handmaidens of Virtue summit.  VERY excited.

That's all I really had to say.  Here are the lyrics.


A Handmaiden of Virtue

I am a daughter
Of God on high
There’s virtue in me
Power
It shines in my eyes

(Chorus)
I can be true to my power
I can keep evil at bay
I can show courage through merit
Proudly
I will show virtue this day

I’ll practice virtue
I’ll find my strength
I’ll nurture the weak
Protect
At any length

(Chorus)
I can be true to my power
I can keep evil at bay
I can show courage through merit
Proudly
I will show virtue this day

If I’m a lady
If I smile to the sky
I’ll be happy
Knowing
Knowing I tried

(Chorus)
I will be true to my power
I will keep evil at bay
I can show courage through merit
Proudly
I will show virtue this day

Amory

A Quick Thing & Avery and the Pup: Avery's Birthday

My awesome friend, Emily Clawson, wrote a book.  She revealed the cover, and I'm blogging about it with the link to get entered into a contest to win a free copy!  Here's the link to her post:

http://www.emilygrayclawson.com/2013/03/18/a-way-back-to-you-cover-revealed-and-a-giveaway/

Also, here's more of my story.  If any of you happened to read the last section I posted, this part is sort of in the middle of that, before the party (I will be amazed if that makes sense).  So... here you go!

* * * * *

The day she turned sixteen was a night to remember.  “June 14th,” she wrote in her journal, “my sixteenth birthday, has been the best day of my life, second to the day I brought Bounder home.  I awoke in the morning to breakfast in bed, served by Pa - he is so sweet.  When I had finished preparing for the day and walked downstairs, I found all seven of my siblings standing around our dining room table.  Sitting on the surface was a very large wrapped package, and it seemed to be in the shape of a book about three feet tall, two feet wide, and a few inches thick.  I walked in and then stopped, frozen.  My family yelled, ‘Surprise!’ and a smile finally broke on my face.  ‘What’s this?’ I asked them, perplexed.  ‘Open it,’ Ma told me.  I opened it, of course, but not without looking around suspiciously and confusedly at my siblings.  Marian in particular seemed very excited, and watched me intently as I carefully tore open the package.  I turned it over as I opened it so that I was looking at the back all the while.  I learned by doing this that the present was a picture frame.  I became more curious then, and opened the gift more rapidly.  When I finally turned it over, I gasped, and nearly dropped the frame back onto the table.  Instead I put one hand over my mouth and gently laid down the item face-up on the surface of the table again.  There was silence for a minute, and all I could do was stare at the painting--but even that was hard to do, because my eyes started watering.  It was a beautiful, regal painting of Bounder.  His figure took up most of the frame, and the background was my Fairy Meadow.  I looked up at Marian.  My hand moved from my mouth to my chest.  I gasped some air into my lungs quietly and realized that I had been holding my breath.  ‘Marian,’ I said, ‘did you make this?’  She had teared up, too, and merely nodded.  ‘Oh, Marian!’ I said, and threw my arms around her.  ‘Marian,’ I cried into her shoulder, ‘oh, Marian, that is beautiful.’  She paused for a moment before asking, ‘You like it?’  I pulled back and said, ‘Oh, yes--yes, I love it!  Oh, Marian, thank you.’  We just hugged each other for a minute or so, and I was the happiest girl on earth at that moment.  Little did I know what other surprises were in store for me.

“After eating a lovely lunch, which Ma took me out to at one of the fanciest restaurants in town, I was told to go to my room and get my party gown on.  I was hesitant but I did it, and Ma came to my room as I was finishing and helped me fix my hair.  My party gown was a light turquoise color, with a yellow sash around the waist, and Ma did my hair up by pulling all of the hair in front of my ears back onto the crown of my head and fastening it with a yellow rose clip.  ‘Where are we going?’ I asked curiously.

“Ma giggled.  ‘I can’t tell you,’ she said, and it was left at that.

“When we went outside and stepped into the family car, Pa blindfolded me!  I had heard so many stories of things like this happening to other girls I knew that I started to guess in my mind that we were going to a surprise party--my guesses were quite incorrect.  When the car stopped and we hopped out, everything was perfectly quiet.  I heard crickets chirping.  ‘What’s going on?’ I asked again, but to no avail.  My father grasped my arm and led me across open grass.  Once I felt a tree brush my shoulder, and I was even more baffled.  Grass and trees? I thought as we walked.  This must be some sort of clearing.  And a clearing it was.  Father took the blindfold off and I found myself surrounded by aspen trees, grassy weeds greeting my feet, the sun setting, and a table stood in front of me.  Covering the table was a princess-pink cloth, with a smaller white one over it, so that I just saw the edges of the pink one.  Sitting on the cloths were two books - one book was thick and brown and worn; the other book was small and blue, and quite new.  In between the two lying books was a small light-pink velvet box with rounded corners.

“‘What’s this?’ I asked Pa.  He just slowly and gently sat me down at the table with a loving smile on his face.

“Once Pa had arranged himself next to me, he began to speak.  ‘Dear princess,’ he said.  ‘You’re sixteen now.  Happy birthday.  I feel old!’  We both laughed and then he continued.  ‘I brought you here for two reasons.  The first one is this.’  He carefully picked up the velvet box and opened it.  Inside was a silver locket in the shape of a heart.  Lining the edges of the surface were intricately made vines with tiny flowers on it.  I took in a quick breath and looked closer.  Engraved in the middle of the heart were the words ‘My Princess.’  I looked up at Father and he was smiling.

“‘This is for you,’ he said, ‘to make sure you never forget that you will always be my princess.’  He took the locket out and placed it in my hands for me to open - on one side was a picture of a pink rose; on the other side was a picture of a man dancing with his daughter.  I looked closer at this picture and realized that it wasn’t a picture - it was a painting.  And not only was it a painting, but it was another painting done by Marian, and it was of Pa and me.  My hand went to my mouth in awe for the second time that day, and my eyes watered again.  I gave my father a hug, and wiped a tear from my face as we pulled apart, both smiling.  Pa tenderly placed the necklace around my neck - it hung to about one-third of the way down my upper arm, and I looked at it and smiled.

“Then came the books - I was awfully curious about the books.  First was the worn brown book.  Father opened it and read the words on the inside cover.  ‘For Our Darling Princess Avery:  A Record of Everything Said.’  I was confused for a moment, and then he explained.  ‘Since you were born, Ma and I have written down things you said that made us laugh or smile, or other things that we wanted to record.  Some of them aren’t exact quotes, but these are for you to keep.’  He handed me the book to look at, and I flipped to the first page.  ‘First word:  Pretty,’ Pa recited as I read, and he looked up at the sky as he said it.  I laughed and looked at him in amazement.  Then I followed his eyes; it was barely turning to twilight - you could still see a few splashes of sunlight sneaking into the sky from the horizon.  I read the next entry: ‘Age one:  Wove-wy day,’ Pa recited again in the same way.  I giggled.  I skipped from age to age now, reading the first quote for each one.  ‘Age two:  Dandelions are fairies that tickle my hair,’ he said as he followed my finger down the page.  I read one more: ‘Age three:  I want to wear a white dress someday and fall in the grass with my husband,’ Pa said.  I smiled.  I must have been a very thoughtful little baby.

“I laid the book down on the table on the other side of me and faced Pa again.  He leaned over and picked up the light-blue, new book.  ‘This,’ he said, ‘is a journal for you.  This journal is to write down all of your wishes and dreams.  Ma and I chose this purpose for it because we wanted you to realize your dreams, and we hoped that giving you this would help you be able to do that in a better way than just thinking them.’  I smiled very broadly.  ‘Oh, thank you, Pa,’ I said.  ‘Thank you.’  I gave him another hug.

“I started to get up from the table but Pa stopped me.  ‘Wait, wait, just a minute,’ he said, so I sat down while he sprinted back to the car where I remembered guiltily that Ma was waiting.  He came back with her and they smiled to me as they walked.

“‘Happy Birthday, Avery,’ Ma said.

“‘Thank you, Ma,’ I said.  ‘This has been the best day of my life.’

“‘But it’s not over yet!’ Ma exclaimed with pretended concern.

“‘It’s not?’ I questioned, and Ma and Pa shook their heads.

“‘We still have dinner to serve you,’ Pa told me.  I raised my eyebrows and sat down again.  It was then that Ma pulled out a huge heaping platter stacked with food, and placed it gracefully in the middle of the table.  I gaped at it for a minute without knowing what to say.  It had all of my favorite foods and drinks and desserts on it.  I wondered in awe how Ma could have possibly carried that all the way from our car without spilling any of it.  Then Pa pulled three plates and forks and knives and cups from behind his back and set them up on the table.

“‘Oh dear!’ I exclaimed, and they laughed.  ‘You did this all for me?’

“They nodded.  ‘Sure did,’ Pa said.

“Ma chuckled.  ‘Yes, and Pa even helped make the drinks.’

“I laughed.  Anyone who lived in my home knew that Pa was a terrible cook, and couldn’t do much to be helpful in the kitchen but follow simple instructions.  We enjoyed the meal immensely, laughing and talking the entire time of many different and deep subjects.

“All in all, the day was wondrous, and I will never forget it as long as I live.”

Amory

March 16th Different Things

My mom's friend has a blog.  Now, this friend of my mom's has known me all my life.  But I don't think she really knows how much she means to me.  Actually, I don't think anyone really knows how much she means to me.  I don't know if I even really know.  So, I'm writing.  This lady... she is amazing.  She has gone through so much in her life, including seven miscarriages, which I can't even fathom.  She is so smart.  She is an amazing artist.  She has chickens.  She homeschools.  She has five children, and is due with another one in June (almost the same as my mom, who is due in July).  I never really get to see this lady anymore.  But I read her blog.  Whenever I read what she says on there, I just feel so inspired, whether it is complaining about a mess her toddler made or writing about all the things she is grateful for.  I don't know how she does it, but she does.  This lady is my friend; I've always thought of her as such.  She knows me pretty well.  Actually, you could say she knows me better than I do, because she knew me when I was little, and she remembers things about me that my mom hasn't thought to tell me over the years, for one reason or another.  She is such an amazing asset in my life.  Some of you know that my great-grandpa passed away in December (I think it was December...).  But you know what?  I didn't shed a single tear for him.  I felt so guilty.  Why couldn't I?  Then I thought of this friend of my mom's.  I thought, If she died, would I cry?  The answer is yes.  I would cry.  A lot.  But why is it that I would cry if she died but not when my great-grandpa died?  This is why:  My great-grandpa was only sort of part of my life.  He was a nice guy.  But I never really saw him.  Like, I only ever saw him about once a year when we went to California, and sometimes not even then.  Then, when I did see him, we never actually had any sort of bonding experiences.  Then I think of this lady again.  Why would I cry?  Because she's a part of me.  I love her a lot more than either of us know.  She helped bring me up in some ways, along with my mom and dad.  I don't know what it is.  All I can say is that I love her, and I wish I could really tell her how much she means to me.

Now, a couple of other things that don't have anything to do with what I talked about up there:

I love songs about Jesus.  "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus," "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus," "If the Savior Stood Beside Me," and "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam" are all songs that I like (all primary songs, I noticed).  In fact, when I took a weird little game-test, I had to pick two random songs.  One of them was "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam," and when the bits and pieces were put together, the little game-test said that "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam" best describes my state of mind.  Of course, it was just a silly little game, but that sort of stuck with me.  I strive every day to do all I can to be like Him.  I want to shine with His light.  I want to learn about Him.  I want Him to be with me always.  I want to be like Him.

Lots of people teach their children to behave by asking them, "What would Jesus do?" and then the children eventually start asking themselves.  After a while, though, I've noticed that this fades away.  Children turn into teenagers, and they forget about that question until later years, when they start asking that of their own children.  It becomes a never-ending cycle - until a youth comes along.  Youth aren't teenagers.  Youth are in their teenage years, but they aren't teenagers.  These youth don't let the question fade away; they keep asking it.  They therefore become what I call "noble youth."  As these noble youth grow up, they become exceptional adults, and not only do they strive with all their beings to do what Jesus would do, they become wonderful people that lots of other people in the world look up to.  These people are prophets, apostles, and any and all other leaders that would speak in General Conference (or even in Stake or Ward Conference).  I'm not saying that I want to be those people, but I am saying that I want to be like those people, in that I want to do what Jesus would do.  In this quest, I am faced with difficulties, as I'm sure those other people were as well.  See, I have this idea.  Observe the scale below:

-- Ideal Life

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-- Real Life

-

-

-

-- Bad Real Life

See that "Bad Real Life" part of the scale?  That is somewhere I don't live.  "Bad Real Life," to me, is a place where there are shootings all the time, no quiet moments, pornography and swearing at every corner, and so on.

Now, see that "Real Life" part of the scale?  That is where I live.  That is a few steps higher/better than "Bad Real Life."  "Real Life," to me, is a place where those bad things only happen once in a very sparse while, but they do happen; there are things in life that I don't like, such as people using substitute words (I know, I'm SO picky), people getting bullied, and people comparing themselves to others (which I actually do sometimes (*GASP!*  Shocker!)); and every single person I know (except for literally five people) is LDS.  That is my reality.  I'm serious.  I'm pretty cushioned, right?  But you know what?  I don't like reality.  It's really, really, really good to live in this reality, and I should be living it, like everyone else that lives it with me, right?  But somehow, it's just not good enough. 

Now, see that "Ideal Life" part of the scale?  That is a perfect life.  That is what the Savior lived.  He lived the "Ideal Life" even when nobody else did.  This is where I want to live.  Did the Savior swear?  No.  Did the Savior use substitute words?  No.  Did the Savior make snappy comments at people?  No.  Did the Savior give in to temptation?  No.  Did the Savior love everyone, even with everyone's imperfections, even when He was betrayed by one of His disciples, even when He was being crucified, even when he was rebuked for everything about Him, even when nobody understood?  Yes.  He did.  This is where I'm trying to live.  Right now, I'm living maybe one or two steps above "Real Life."  Every day, I do something to try and make it up closer to "Ideal Life."  I'm getting up there, slowly, thousandth of a millimeter by thousandth of a millimeter.  I'll tell you, that is a rocky, steep hill to climb, and sometimes the rocks cut at me, and sometimes people and things that are of the world try to grab me by the ankles and carefully, enticingly pull me back down.  They are strong.  VERY strong.  But I do my very best to kick them off and keep climbing.  It is not easy.  But it's my goal.  It's my ultimate goal, along with letting virtue garnish my thoughts unceasingly and getting to the Celestial Kingdom.  I will do ANYTHING it takes to reach that ultimate goal.  And I am NOT kidding.

Amory

March 11th "Stand Ye in Holy Places...

And be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord."

For New Beginnings on Sunday, I was asked to share my thoughts about the following question: How has virtue helped you to stand in holy places?

There is this thing called Summit...  (Yeah, some of you already see where this is going - or most of you.)  See, the park that we have Summit in is the park where everything happens.  All of my very greatest memories are there.  That is the place that I was at when I was at the happiest point of my life.  That is the place where I made so many new friends, where I made new discoveries, where I learned so many things.  It is my favorite place in the world.  Now, this place is not only all of those things, but there is another element that makes it so special.  So many wonderful youth and wonderful people have been there that (as my mom describes it) virtue emanates from it - almost literally.  When the woman touched Christ's clothes to be healed, Christ said, "Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me."  The footnote for "virtue" says "power."  Virtue is power.  And when I stand in that park and I feel the virtue emanating from it, I feel powerful - like I can do anything - like I am a virtuous woman, whose price is far above rubies.  I feel incredible.  When I go there, I'll just lie on the amphitheater stage, not caring how dirty or germ-filled it is, and I literally suck power and strength from the ground.  All the memories flood my mind, my soul is filled with gladness, and my heart with joy, and when we drive home, all I want to do is smile and sing and laugh.  It's the most amazing feeling.

So I've been dreaming about dating.  Yes, I know - it's kind of silly.  But, oh, I wish I could be having so much fun like those people who are old enough to go on group and double dates!  I shall have to wait.  This is where I learn patience, right?  On my first date, I want to go on a double date, with some super awesome people that will go to the Summit park with me.  I want to go there and lie on the amphitheater, and I want to have that wonderful, incredible feeling again.  Then I want to play on the playground, and run around on the battlefield, and explore Gelt, and recite the Seven Standards, and talk under the stars...  Ahhh...  That is my dream.  It might come true.  It might not.  I might just go do that by myself, just because it would be so much fun!  Whatever happens, I have resolved to be content.

Thanks for listening to my rambling again.

Amory

March 10th Complete Randomness

I just wanted to blog today, so I'm going to think of all the issues I can talk about and go over them and ramble about them.  Okay?  Okay.

Journals - The prophets tell us to keep a journal, don't they?  Well don't they?  So many girls (and guys) in my ward (when the topic comes up) say, "What's the point of journaling?"  0_o!!!!  Did I just hear you say that?  Journaling is so useful!  What if you're writing a talk (or a speech, or an essay, or anything) and you want to refer to a personal experience you had, but you just can't seem to remember it well enough to tell about it?  Did you write the details of it in your journal?  You did?  Oh, well, then you can just look it up and read it over, and then you can write your talk (or whatever it is)!  Hurrah!  Oh, wait.  Did you say that you didn't write the details in your journal?  Oh...  How sad...  Now you can't use that experience in your talk unless your memory suddenly becomes perfect, but that won't happen until the after-life - so sorry...

Do you write in your journal every day?  Or even once a week?  Or once a month?  Or once every other month?  Have you died yet?  You have?  Well, guess what!  Your fourth-great grandchild just found your journal, and do you know what they're doing?  They are rejoicing over finding such a treasure!  They read it every night.  Ooh, look, they're struggling over a bump in the road!  They need guidance but don't really know how to find it.  They open your journal and read about a bump in the road that you had to go through when you were their age.  Now they are not only encouraged to keep climbing over the bump, they also know how to climb over!  Good job!  You just inspired your fourth-great grandchild!

Do any of you see what I'm getting at?  "Well, what if the things I write in my journal, I don't want my ancestors to read?"  0_o  If you think your ancestors might not like you anymore if they read your journal--are you OKAY?  Do you need help with something?  "No, I'm fine.  But you know, anyone can read it.  All they have to do is open the cover."  Well, that's why you keep it hidden.  Guys, really, EVERYONE knows that I journal, and so far, nobody has ever gotten into any of my journals.  Maybe that's the trick.  If nobody really knows that you journal, and then they find a mysterious book lying around with your name on it, what do you think they're going to do?  Open it!  Duh!

Journaling is one of my favorite things to do.  I like journaling so much that I have... *counting...* seven journals, all of them for different things.  It's wonderful!  My dad teased me once and said, "Amory, your descendants are going to know you really well."  But you know what?  I take joy in that!  I always wish I knew my ancestors better.  So when I journal, and I think that my descendants will know me well, I just think, "Well, it's sort of like making up for me not knowing my own ancestors."  If that makes any sense...

So, this post sort of just was all about journaling.  But do you get my point?  I talk about journaling a lot I guess...  I just wish more people did it!  I don't think that very many people have even the slightest idea of how awesome journaling is.

So that's the end.  Maybe I'll do another post sometime about standing in holy places.   That's a good topic, right?

Thanks for listening to my ranting!  (Brownie points for enduring the read even though I talk about it so much already!)  Bye!

Amory

March 4th More of Avery and the Pup

You remember that story from a while back that I started "on the spur of the moment?"  Well I've been writing, and decided to put some more on here.  Let me know what you think!  (If you want to read the first part, go back to my post from February 3rd entitled "Little Recollections."  This story also now has its own page, so I will post the newest section each time on the main page, and then also add it to its own page for anyone who wants to read it later.)  Note:  I am going to elaborate on the "big project" she does when I have time to write it all out and figure out what it actually is.

“Ma!  Ma!!!” Avery burst in the front door looking for her mother.  “Ma, where are you?”  There was a huge smile on her face.  “MA!”

Her mother bustled into the living room to her daughter.  “What?  What is it?” she asked urgently, a concerned look engulfing her face.

Avery placed her hands firmly on her mother’s shoulders and said excitedly while jumping up and down, “I get--to help--with--the fundraiser!!!”  Her green dress flounced up and down with her movements.

Her mother’s eyes had widened in interest.  “Alright, Avery.  Calm down,” she said.  “What is this fundraiser?”

Avery removed her hands from her mother’s shoulders and took a deep breath.  Her voice was still excited as she spoke, and her wavy hair shook.  “My club is putting on a fundraiser.  The rule is that you have to be sixteen to help, but they let me in even though it’s March and I’m not turning sixteen until June!  I’m so happy!!”  The heels of her feet bounced up and down off the floor.

Her mother was smiling now, and a little more relaxed.  “Why is that so good?  Fundraisers are work.”  She looked surprised.  Avery was never known to like work.

Avery paused to speak for a moment before bouncing around again.  “Oh, the great part is that I get to be with the older girls!  And it won’t seem like work if I put my whole self into it and sing at the same time.  This is going to be so much fun!”  Avery was giddy with excitement.

Her mother smiled.  “Well, I’m glad you’re happy about it.  Can you come help me prepare supper?”

Avery smiled.  She was giddy just to have her mother’s approval.  She would help with supper--no problem.  “Yes, Ma.  Coming!”  She followed her into the kitchen.

They made supper and baked cookies together, all the while laughing and singing.  Avery had a lovely time.  She always felt closer to her mother at times like those - as if she was creating a stronger bond in a rope that would stay for a much longer time.  She was proud of those moments.  Sometimes some of her friends would say that their parents were “embarrassing” and that they thought their parents should let them do what they wanted.  But Avery knew that her mother and father restricted her from certain things for her own well-being.  She knew that she was being protected from dangers that she couldn’t see, so she put her trust in her parents and let them lead and guide her.  She treasured the moments when she grew closer to her mother and father.

The weeks went by and Avery came home nearly every Friday evening with tales to tell, gossip to spin, and woes to tell her beloved puppy.

Bounder was growing up.  Avery noticed that his ribs still showed even though he ate lots of food.  She went to the library and researched the reason.  She found a book on his breed that told her that it was just the genetics in his breed that made him so skinny, so she didn’t worry about it.  He was getting to be a lanky dog.  She played their game of “Catch Me if You Can” with him at least once a week, and those were some of her favorite times that summer.  Her dog lived in the house.  She brought him into her room at nights and she would spend long periods of time speaking to him - sometimes hours.  That summer was one of the best of her life.

The season was made even better later when an end-of-summer dance was held.  Avery was so excited as she got ready for it.  Her service project with the older girls had just been completed, and she was feeling like an accomplished young lady.

She felt rather proud of herself as she put on her newly-earned dress, which she had purchased after working and saving for months, and she looked at her lithe form in the mirror.  She smashed her face this way and that for a minute or so, and then she stood up straight, checked herself, made sure she had everything she needed with her, and flounced out of her bedroom.  Bounder followed her out, his tongue hanging out of his mouth and his tail wagging.  Avery smiled as she glanced down at his loyal, trotting form.

As she stepped daintily down the stairs, she looked down to her right at her parents chatting in the living room.  “Look at that beautiful young lady,” her father remarked when he looked up.  She suddenly became bashful and looked down at her cream-colored shoes.  She was wearing a sparkling cream dress that reached halfway down her shins and had a high, curved neck.  The front strands of her hair were brought up and fastened at the back of her head with a cream, jeweled flower.  She wore small pearl clip-on earrings - she had never pierced her ears, and wearing those meant she could take them off whenever she wanted to.

She felt very happy to have her father think she looked nice.  She stood in front of him and smiled.  She turned her green eyes to her mother, looking for approval.  Her mother was beaming with pride.  Avery’s smile grew.  She was so proud, and excited.

“You had best be going now,” her mother said as she stood up.  Her father held his hand out to help her, and she readjusted her dress as she spoke.

Avery was still smiling.  She nodded.  “Alright, Ma.  Goodbye,” she said.

Her father smiled.  “Not for too long, darling,” he said as he patted her gently on the back.

Avery turned and looked at them both, and then gave a little delighted squeal, bouncing up with one foot kicked behind her and her hands clasped up in front of her chest.  She held still again, and let her hands fall, still clasped.  She gave a little happy sigh.  “Sixteen,” she said aloud.  She mulled it over again: “Six--teen.”  Her face suddenly looked almost crestfallen and she stared at the floor.  “Oh, I’m getting older.”

Her father looked at her with a proud, sad smile.  “Yes.  You’re growing up.  Sometimes I miss the tiny little Avery you used to be, but at this moment I’m just glad to have you as you are right now.”

Her mother nodded.  “And the same with me.”

Avery smiled again, this time brighter than she had before.  “Thank you.”  She looked at them both again.  “Alright.  I’m ready,” she said, looking at her father.

He nodded.  “Let’s go.”  He held out his elbow for her to take, and she graciously received it, lacing her arm into his.  They both beamed at each other as they walked out the door and he helped her into the carriage.

They had a ride filled with conversation and laughing, and when they arrived at their destination, Avery was almost sad to go.  “Goodbye, Pa,” she said to him, giving him a dainty hug.

“Goodbye, princess.”  He hugged her back.  She began walking up the cobblestone pathway leading to the house she was invited to.  “Remember who you are and what you stand for!” he called after her in a fun way.  Avery smiled back at him and waved, and then continued prancing happily as her father drove away.

As she sidled up to the door, she analyzed all the features of the building.  The door was a dark red color; the house itself was a very subtle, light blue; on either side of the door were two white lions, sitting regally and guarding the door; the veranda roof was edged with lace-like lattice, and the railing underneath it was about three feet high, with dainty daisies intertwining their stems through the white wooden bars; under the veranda roof sat three red-cushioned wicker patio chairs, more daisies dancing on the print of the fabric, and some ten feet down the veranda hung a likewise red-cushioned, daisy-clad wicker swing; hanging about the doorway in vines were clusters of light-purple flowers, and on either side of the door was a lamp, a daisy on each corner of the box containing the light.  Avery stepped up near the threshold and banged the knocker, a carved picture of a lion dancing in a daisy field.

A girl about Avery’s age answered the door.  “Hello, Avery!” she greeted, her blue eyes dancing merrily.

“Fayanna!” Avery gasped.  She leaped forward towards her friend in an affectionate hug.  “Oh, Fayanna, it’s been too long!” she said as she let her go partly, still clasping her elbows.

Fayanna laughed good heartedly.  “Oh, I know, Avery!  How I’ve missed you!  Come in,” she invited, and they walked inside, arms linked.  “We have so much catching up to do tonight!  I don’t know if we’ll be able to leave each others’ sides!”

Avery giggled.  “I know I won’t be able to leave yours.  Come on, tell me who’s here.”  She looked around, scanning the area for anyone she recognized.  “I see Michael over there.  Is that Jessica Simpson he’s with?” she marveled.

Fayanna giggled.  “Yes, and look how flirtatious they are!  Such lovebirds.”

Avery laughed.  “They are a little mushy.”  She observed them as she walked by, Michael bowing to her teasingly with his hand held out and Jessica giving him her hand with a flattered smile.  Avery almost rolled her eyes.

Fayanna led them to the refreshment table for a drink and a tasty sweet.  As Avery turned around with a small sugar cookie in her mouth, she came face-to-face with Michael.  “Oh!” she yelped.  She removed the cookie from her mouth before she had bitten down on it, and narrowly avoided crashing into him.  He side-stepped and almost fell, but he braced himself against the table behind him.  “Oh, I’m so sorry!” Avery said.  “Are you alright?”  She set her cookie down on the table behind him and gave him a swift looking over before their eyes met.

“Yes, I’m alright,” Michael said, finding his smile.  “Just a bit flustered.”

Avery smiled back.  “Alright.”  They stared at each other for only a few more seconds before Avery broke the gaze by looking at the floor.  “Well, I’d best get back to Fayanna,” she said.

Michael stood up straight again and straightened his suit.  “Ah, yes.  I’ll leave you to it.”  He continued to his original destination and served himself some punch.

Avery picked up her cookie again and nibbled it while she sidled back over to Fayanna, who was chatting with a good friend of theirs.  Avery hadn’t seen her in a long time, either, and they embraced like old friends.

After a short while, Fayanna and Avery broke off and turned into wallflowers for the next dance.  They sat on an unoccupied blue bench with a backing that was next to a big picture window.  They both looked out for a few moments and enjoyed looking at the moon and stars, and all of the lovely green things that grew around the house.  They both looked at each other and smiled, and then Avery turned towards her.

“So--Fayanna,” she began, her face slowly lighting up.  “Tell me what you’ve been up to all these months!  Every since you moved last summer I’ve been missing you.  I wish you’d written.  Are you back to stay?”

Fayanna laughed.  “Oh, I’ve been up to lots of things.  We were so busy getting the household up and going, and when school started I got jammed.  I didn’t have a spare minute to myself!”  She leaned back on the bench, relaxing a little more.  “I’m so glad that summer’s here.  I need a little time to just let go for a while.”

Avery nodded, and then smiled.  “You didn’t answer my question,” she said.

Fayanna giggled as she sat up again.  “Guess what,” she said excitedly.

“What?”  Avery sat forward with anticipation even though she could already guess what Fayanna was going to say.

“Father got a job back here again, working for Mr. Glad, so we’re moving back!”

Both girls squealed with delight.  “Hurrah!” Avery said.  “Oh, Fayanna, that is such good news!”

Fayanna nodded.  “We’re moving back within the week, but we heard about this party and they let me come and stay a few nights in the hotel so I didn’t have to go back and forth.”

Avery beamed rapturously.  “That means I get a few days of you to myself then?”

Fayanna nodded vigorously.  “Yes!  Yes, it does!”

The girls squealed again.  “This is going to be so much fun!” Avery said.

Fayanna nodded again.  “It is, isn’t it?  What should we do first?”

Avery laughed quietly and looked up at the ceiling as she thought.  “We should reminisce in the Forest of Memories!”  She giggled as she said it aloud and realized how well the activity would fit with the place.  “How perfect would that be?”

Fayanna gasped in remembrance.  “Oh, yes, we should,” she said.  “Oh, and the Fairy Meadow, too?”

Avery’s head bobbed violently.  “Yes, yes!  And the Hill of Dreams!”  She suddenly remembered something and gasped.  “I’ve got a new surprise for you, Fayanna.  You’ll love it!”

“Oh, what is it?” Fayanna begged, leaning forward.

Avery shook her head.  “I shan’t tell you until you come to my house tomorrow.”

Fayanna smiled as she sighed playfully.  “Alright,” she said.  “Ah, I can’t wait for tomorrow!”

Just then, a young man about Avery’s age walked over to them from the crowd.  A dance had just ended.  His neatly combed brown hair bobbed above the rest of the crowd as his long stride brought him swiftly to the ladies.

“Why, hello, Samuel,” Fayanna said, taking note of him.

“Hello, ladies,” he said as he bowed slightly.  He held out his hand to Avery.  “May I have this dance?” he asked, his green eyes dancing as he smiled charmingly at her.

Avery blushed and giggled to Fayanna.  “Of course!” she accepted, taking his hand and standing.

The next song was a fast one, and the two swung in and out with each other to the beat, smiling and laughing, without any awkwardness.  Avery was grateful for this last attribute to the dance.  So many men that she had danced with never smiled, merely frowning the entire time and concentrating on the floor, as if trying too hard not to mess up their footing; but Samuel just smiled, and if he stumbled he laughed off the mistake.

All in all, Avery had a grand time dancing with him.  He had asked her to call him Sam, and she had consented, giggling all the while.

Samuel brought her back to her bench to be a wallflower again, Avery gasping for breath through her laughter, and Fayanna joined her a few moments later.

Fayanna say down next to Avery, a look of nonchalance on her face.  Avery’s demeanor turned solemn.  “Oh, why aren’t you laughing?” she asked Fayanna with concern.

Fayanna shook her head.  “Those boys are far too focussed on their dancing.  Someone should teach them how to just have fun!”  At this she smiled, and all was well again.

The night blew by; Avery let her cares slip away.  She said goodbye to Fayanna and Samuel and Jessica and went home to a sleepful, dreamless night.

Amory

March 3rd A Speech

For all those who won't hear my speech in person--here it is.

Oratory - Tournament #2 - A Quest for Happiness

By Amory McKay

“Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family.”  This quote is from Thomas S. Monson, president of the LDS church.

What does it mean to “relish life?”  A lot of people might think it means to “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.”  They think that if you just let your life be full of doing absolutely whatever you want, you’ll be happy, and you’ll have accomplished something.  I don’t think it means that at all.  I think it means that we should really, truly enjoy life, and do all we can to live up to the divine potentials that all of us have.

What about “finding joy in the journey” and “sharing our love with friends and family”?  Some people may think that this means doing anything you can to find pleasure and being nice to people, and that’s it.  I personally think this means that we should do all we can to live life to the fullest.  

What do you think these things mean?

Many people in the world today suffer from an ailment called “depression.”  It degrades and shoves down a person mentally until the person inflicted with it either can’t bear it any longer, and they do something unsensible to get rid of it, or the person cures themself in another way.  According to an article on the University of Pittsburgh’s website, clinical depression is “the second leading cause of death among people between the ages of 15 [and] 24.”

When someone has low self-esteem, they usually end up feeling unattractive, useless, or depressed, or all three.  What would happen if the president of the United States felt unattractive, useless, and depressed?  We would probably have a failing country.  So why is it okay that so many citizens of America are hurting or killing themselves?  Citizens are just as important as presidents.  Without citizens there wouldn’t be a president.  Without people occupying lands, there would not even be a world.  There is something wrong with the fact that so many people feel depressed enough that they think the only way out of it is through suicide.

The world as we know it, my friends, has begun to crash down around us in a sea of misery.  We must not let this happen!  We must endeavor to rebuild the world and quench the fire of agony that has been spreading through our lands, as if a plague is destroying us.  We therefore must each go on a quest for happiness, to bring joy back into our society.

To complete this quest for happiness, there are things that must happen.  First, bring happiness to yourself.  I will share with you a few examples that have worked for my comrades and me in my own quest for happiness.

There was a news story on KSL just last year.  Young men from a stake in the LDS church were inspired by the message from Thomas S. Monson that said, “Every woman deserves to be told she is beautiful.”  They did a lip sync to the song What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction.  All they did was smile, sing, and dance.  I was very impressed.  Because these young men took the initiative to do something to help others smile, they not only brightened their own day but they inspired even more young men to do the same thing, and made a lot of people very happy, excited, and proud of them, including myself.

In November, I attended a two-day event called Etiquette Simulation, where youth ages fourteen and older gather to learn about how men should treat women and how women should treat men, and about what it means to use proper etiquette.  We also learned a lot about self-worth.  Towards the end of the event, a formal banquet and ball were held.  Everyone dressed up in ball gowns and dresses and suits.  While all of the girls were getting ready, taking up about an hour, the guys were trying to memorize a song to sing to them.  The girls walked into a room where there were about fifty young men gathered around a baby grand piano, and they sang a song called Princess by Galen Crew.  The song is about a little girl who believed she was a princess, but then she grew up and started to believe that she wasn’t one, and that she wasn’t even beautiful, because of all that the world told her.  The young men all sang with vigor and sincerity the words, “The mirror doesn’t tell you who you are, and you don’t need to wish upon a star, ‘cause you already are a princess.”  They sang it again at the end of the ball, and some of the girls were crying.  They were touched, and so happy that these young men had taken the initiative to help them realize that they were beautiful princesses.

Serving in different ways can be a huge contributor to happiness, not only for the person being served but also for the person serving.  A while ago, I had the opportunity to serve at my church’s Bishop’s Storehouse, where people can go and get groceries that the LDS church provides for needy families.  We help by putting things on shelves, counting groceries so we can make sure the customers got everything that they needed, and putting shopping carts where they go.  It’s wonderful to serve there because you are so focused on working and helping everyone else that you don’t have time to even think about yourself.  When you stop thinking about yourself, you can only think of others, and this is where the happiness comes in.  This was such a neat opportunity because it’s something I don’t usually get to do, I was able to feel compassion for the people there that were different than me, I let go of myself to help everyone else, and I felt so good afterwards that I had done something worthwhile.

There is a second and last step in the quest for happiness: share your joy and love with those around you.  It is also not just a step but a lifelong commitment to help others smile.

I have attempted to define the meaning of the phrase “the music of the heart.”  The “music of the heart” is something that is voiced only through laughter.  It is something that can only be heard when the one voicing it is filled with pure joy.  It is something that is felt within the deepest recesses of one's soul, and which brings the utmost pleasure and satisfaction when one lets it.  It is something that should be shared with the closest of friends and family.  This “music of the heart” is part of how to share your joy and love with those around you.  I also have a few other examples.

A lot of the youth I know love to plan parties.  We find fun things to do like playing games, making treats like cookies, doing crafts together, and just talking to each other.  People put their phones away without even being asked because they are excited about being with their friends and having fun.  Nothing compares to fun, carefree time with your friends.  You can have your burdens lifted for a while, and even if you go home and feel a crushing weight of sadness overwhelm you again, being genuinely happy for that small time - even if you may not notice it - does take a tiny portion away from your load.

Many youth in my area also like to plan dances.  They choose uplifting music to play, and usually have a dance instructor to teach the participants how to do certain dances, which are usually victorian dances.  The lights are turned on or are only slightly dimmed in the area we’re in, and everyone is asked to wear modest clothing.  Boys are expected to ask girls to dance, although girls can ask if they want to.  The youth there always have smiles on their faces, and since smiles are contagious, all of the people there have one.  Everyone gets excited about these activities and loves to attend.  It’s free, it’s fun, and it makes us happy.

I can’t wait to make a difference.  I want so badly to change the world.  I am so excited, and I want you to be excited with me.  With everyone’s help, we can turn the world into a place where people relish life, where people find joy in their journeys, where people share love with those around them.  We can calm the sea of misery that the world has become.  We can make a difference.  And when we do this, as Gandhi said, “In a gentle way, we will shake the world.”

Thank you.

Amory