Broken Mouth Falls

Wednesday, we took the girls on a hike to Broken Mouth Falls for Young Womens. It consisted of a long drive (complete with missed turns and angry drivers), short walk, and a very pretty waterfall. It was on the east side of the valley, so we were up among the amazingly large and gorgeous homes that are the staple there. All of the girls kept saying how they wanted a house like that, but personally, I wouldn’t want to clean it, so I am good with the house I have. However, I was wishing that I could take pictures of the landscaping without looking like a creeper because there was an amazing water feature in the front yard of one of the houses. I almost think I would rather have a gorgeous yard than a massive house, but a yard is just as much or more work than a house, so I will also be content with what I have. I still have a lot of room for improvement in my yard. 

Anyways, the hike was really short, only ten or fifteen minutes, but it was very steep, so I was quite winded by the time I made it to the waterfall. The waterfall itself was smallish, but the fact that it was so close to civilization made it more interesting and intriguing. You don’t expect things like that in a metropolitan area. Once we were up there we let the girls play in the water a little bit, then Tia read a story that likened the struggles of hiking to the struggles of life. I can think of countless times I was ready to give up in life (especially during college and dating Kevin), but I knew that the reward of a good education/a good career and an eternal marriage far outweighed the occasional bitterness of the journey. In general, I also realize this, although it is harder to focus on the prize when it is a vague idea of eternal life and happiness, something that we really can’t understand. However, I also know that sticking to the straight and narrow path, and holding to the rod, will help me achieve that goal, and will bring me unfathomable happiness.

After the story, we had some time to reflect. I of course did not bring my camera, so I was stuck with my phone. Many of the pictures didn’t turn out, but here are some of the better ones for your viewing pleasure.

This is just the lower half of the waterfall, I think the full waterfall is on my Facebook page.

This is my attempt at being artistic.

Book of Mormon Challenge

About a week ago at a ward fireside, our Bishop issued a challenge for the youth of the ward (and their leaders) to read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover. We each received a Book of Mormon, with the instruction to mark all the names of Christ in one color, to mark the attributes of Christ in another, and in the last color to mark all of the times the Lord is speaking. In January we are having a party for all those who have finished it.

So far I have read to paged 34, and I have enjoyed reading the Book of Mormon in this fashion. I have read it many times, but I think I get the most out of it (at least in terms of the big picture) when I read through it quickly like I was reading a novel. I know that was true when I read it back in 2006 when President Hinckley issued his challenge, as well as when I had to read each half in two weeks in Brother Merrill’s Book of Mormon class at BYU. 

I am looking forward to this challenge, mostly because reading the Book of Mormon in a set time frame makes it more of a priority. I am usually pretty good about reading the scriptures, but since this challenge was issued, I have written a reading schedule in my dayplanner. My goal is to read 10 pages three times a week (to account for when I work or if something comes up), but so far, I have read at least a couple pages every day, in addition to my assigned reading, so currently I am ahead of schedule. I know that if I make the Book of Mormon a priority in my life, it will bless my life as I internalize the words and gain a greater understanding of the Book. I already have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, but I have a long way to go before I become a Book of Mormon expert. However, each time I read the Book of Mormon, I know that the knowledge I gain will help me understand the Gospel better. 

I hope that my Young Women are committed to the challenge because I know that their lives will also be blessed as they make the Book of Mormon a priority in their busy lives. They face so many challenges growing up now. Even more than when I was their age, and that wasn’t that long ago. I know that the Book of Mormon can be an anchor in their lives to help them make good decisions and avoid heartache. I love each and every one of them, and I want each of them to succeed in life and to be happy.