Connection

 There we were—absolutely exhausted—sitting in our airplane seats. It was 11:30 P.M., and Andrew and I were both looking forward to getting some shut-eye before the drive back to our little house in Elk Grove, California. Then it hit me: we had been praying for missionary opportunities.

Right then, a group of high schoolers boarded the plane. Clean-cut, clearly young. One boy—well, young man—sat next to us. He introduced himself as Christian, and we started talking. At first, it was light—he told us about his trip, a Founding of America tour. In return, we shared about our trip to Utah, our wedding reception, and our faith. I asked about his beliefs, and he said he was agnostic.

Somehow, the conversation shifted to family history. I showed him where the Family History Library was on the map, and something opened up. He began talking more—especially about wanting to learn about his sisters. We even set a time to meet there later that week.

As the conversation continued, he became more vulnerable. It was obvious: this was a young man with so much to say and very few people to say it to—at least, not people he felt safe opening up to. By the end of the flight, he said he felt our meeting was inspired—that we were meant to meet.

Then, almost out of nowhere, he said something that stuck with me. He told me he felt smart—book smart—but struggled with everyday things, like tying his shoes or folding T-shirts. He said it made him feel like he might become obsolete, because people prefer being around those who seem “successful.”

I asked a few more questions, then reflected back what I heard: that his strengths were less visible, and because people tend to value what is obvious, he worried others would not want to be around him. His face went still. His voice shook. He said yes.

That moment mattered. It took courage for him to say that out loud, and I was genuinely proud of him for doing it.

It also made me think about my wedding reception. Standing in the receiving line, I made a point to ask people about themselves. Whenever they tried to turn the attention back to me, I redirected it to them. And honestly, that line became far more meaningful than repeating my life plans a hundred times. It was healing.

Connection, it seems, is not about being seen—it is about seeing others.

Make the bed

 A sum is made up of two parts. If the overall value is to increase, it is far more effective for both numbers to grow—not just one. Aldrin’s efforts are already increasing; the real question is, what happens when mine do too?

 I want to be more intentional about making the bed when I get up. I know this is probably not the answer you expected, but when you get married, there is another person in the equation. And that means more than just shared responsibility—it means the equation itself changes. Even if one number stays the same, adding another changes the answer.

Because Aldrin leaves for work much earlier than I do, I am still sleeping when he goes. I work swing night shifts at the hospital, so by the time I wake up, I am usually rushing—out the door to school or work. And because of that, I do not always make the bed.

But I have noticed something. Aldrin feels a lot better when he comes home from a long workday to a clean house. And honestly, I do too.

The past few days, I have been leaving the house a mess, and he has so cheerfully cleaned up for me. There is something quiet and kind in that. Something I do not want to overlook.

He is unchnaging. his willingness and demenor to clean does not chnage. yet iwant to change my part in the equatio to make a sum or prudct of great er value. to elevate out realtisohsip 

So I want to try—to do this one small thing for him. The same thing he does on the days when I leave before him. Just something simple.

Make the bed.

 It’s okay to wait to have children.

Adam and Eve waited for a time to prepare. They were married first, and it took time before they could leave the garden and partake of the fruit of the Tree of Life.

I think I relate to Eve in her dilemma. There are two responsibilities: have children, and not partake of this tree.

But it was necessary for one to happen in order for the other. It might be necessary to partake of knowledge so that I can have children.

If needed Adam to a Sister, I need to turn to my husband and see his thoughts.

The not for giving almond milk. Get the for giving ROOMMATE.

Roommates. We love them.

Thankfully, I now have the best roommate—my husband. Even better, we share everything. There is no “he ate my food” or “she used my shampoo.” It is all just… ours.

But it was not always like that.

Right before I got married, I rented a room in a house with a 90-year-old woman. Before that, it was college roommates. And before college, it was my mission companion.

In other words, I have had a wide range of roommate experiences.

And one thing I have learned?

Apparently, I cannot be trusted around other people’s ice cream.

The time I had an “aha” moment was when I ate my roommate’s ice cream and needed to replace it before she found out.

It was a stressful night, and I kept waking up. Eventually, I wandered to the freezer to see what we had. That is when it happened.

The chocolate Tillamook ice cream stared straight at me.

It was not just there—it was calling me.

The next thing I knew, I was sitting on the couch, staring at the white, scraped-clean bottom of an empty container, wondering how my life had led me to this moment.

Panic set in immediately.

I started pacing. I needed a plan.

DoorDash? My card would not work.
Drive to the store? It was 3:00 a.m., and I value my safety slightly more than dairy-based redemption.
Text someone to DoorDash it for me? Desperate. Tempting. Still a no.

And then—clarity.

I will just make her ice cream.

I grabbed almond milk (the closest thing we had to real milk), raw cane sugar, and cocoa powder. I mixed it together like I knew what I was doing, poured it back into the container, and slid it into the freezer—quietly hoping she would not wake up craving ice cream for breakfast.

Against all odds… it froze.

Unfortunately, it froze into something with the structural integrity of a brick.

Later, I watched her open the freezer, take it out, and just… stare at it.

Confused. Slightly concerned. A little sad.

That was my breaking point.

I confessed.

She took it well—better than I deserved, honestly—but she just nodded slowly, like she was reevaluating several life decisions, including living with me.

Roommates teach you a lot about life. Boundaries. Forgiveness. And apparently, that some midnight decisions should never involve dairy improvisation.

But I guess that is the beauty of it.

You live, you learn… and you try not to touch your roomates ice cream again…. But as for my husbands dairy treats….. free game 

History of Savior Redeemer of My Soul

 I found the following off this website 

https://odesandoracles.wordpress.com/orson-f-whitneys-vision-of-the-savior/

while I was searching for background to share singing 

Savior Redeemer of My Soul 

Then came a marvelous manifestation, and admonition from a higher source, one impossible to ignore. It was a dream, or a vision in a dream, as I lay upon my bed in the little town of Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. I seemed to be in the Garden of Gethsemane, a witness of the Savior’s agony. I saw Him as plainly as ever I have seen anyone. Standing behind a tree in the foreground, I beheld Jesus, with Peter, James and John, as they came through a little wicket gate at my right. Leaving the three Apostles there, after telling them to kneel and pray, the Son of God passed over to the other side, where He also knelt and prayed. It was the same prayer with which all Bible readers are familiar: “Oh my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”

As He prayed the tears streamed down His face, which was toward me. I was so moved at the sight that I also wept, out of pure sympathy. My whole heart went out to Him; I loved Him with all my soul, and longed to be with Him as I longed for nothing else.

Presently He arose and walked to where those Apostles were kneeling– fast asleep! He shook them gently, awoke them, and in a tone of tender reproach, untinctured by the least show of anger or impatience, asked them plaintively if they could not watch with Him one hour. There He was, with the awful weight of the world’s sins upon His shoulders, with the pangs of every man, woman and child shooting through His sensitive soul– and they could not watch with Him one poor hour!

Returning to His place, He offered up the same prayer as before; then went back and again found them sleeping. Again He awoke them, readmonished them, and once more returned and prayed. Three times this occurred, until I was perfectly familiar with His appearance– face, form and movements. He was of noble stature and majestic mien– not at all the weak, effeminate being that some painters have portrayed; but the very God that He was and is, as meek and humble as a little child.

All at once the circumstances seemed to change, the scene remaining just the same. Instead of before, it was after the crucifixion, and the Savior, with the three Apostles, now stood together in a group at my left. They were about to depart and ascend into Heaven. I could endure it no longer. I ran from behind the tree, fell at His feet, clasped Him around the knees, and begged Him to take me with Him.

I shall never forget the kind and gentle manner in which He stooped, raised me up, and embraced me. It was so vivid, so real. I felt the very warmth of His body, as He held me in His arms and said in the tenderest tones: “No, my son, these have finished their work; they can go with me; but you must stay and finish yours.” Still I clung to Him. Gazing up into His face– for He was taller than I– I besought Him fervently: “Well, promise me that I may come to you at the last.” Smiling sweetly, He said, “That will depend entirely upon yourself.” I awoke with a sob in my throat, and it was morning.

…. I saw the moral clearly. I have never thought of being an Apostle, nor of holding any other office in the Church, and it did not occur to me then. Yet I knew that these sleeping Apostles meant me. I was asleep at my post — as any man is who, having been divinely appointed to do one thing, does another.

But from that hour, all was changed. I never was the same man again. I continued to write, but not to the neglect of the Lord’s work. I held that first and foremost; all else was secondary.” (Orson F. Whitney, “Through Memories Halls”, 1930, p. 82)

R

oice and meaning:

LITTLE UPDATE

I love you. Work here is going really well. I have the opportunity to care for burn patients and spinal cord injury children. Part of my job is debriding, which means we scrub burned tissue until it bleeds in order to remove damaged skin and prevent infection.

Sometimes it is really hard. There are moments when I am scrubbing their wounds and the children are crying and screaming for help. It brings tears to my eyes when they ask, “What did I do wrong? Why are you mad at me?” These kids range anywhere from two or three months old all the way to eighteen years old.

There are a lot of gospel parallels in this. It reminds me of the idea that God sometimes has to “rub us raw” in order for us to grow. Sometimes we try to heal ourselves when the wound is too deep, but it does not go well—it does not heal properly, and it can cause lasting damage. But when we allow proper debridement—or repentance—we are allowing God to create a surface that, once healed, is whole again. Not scarless in the sense of erased experience, but restored in a way that is clean, functional, and made new.

One of my favorite patients is a boy I will refer to as “A” (I cannot use his full name due to patient confidentiality). He is a burn patient and around the same age as Ezra. Eighty-five percent of his body was burned, and he has been in the hospital since this spring.

Whenever you talk to him, he rolls his eyes—not because he is being disrespectful, but because he thinks it is funny. That took me a while to understand; at first, I thought he was constantly annoyed with me. Over time, we have become good friends, and he brings me a lot of joy.

He will be going home soon, which I am happy about—he will finally return to the other side of the country and back to his life. But it is also bittersweet. I have grown attached, and I have seen glimpses of God’s love for this boy through my time caring for him. And now it is time to let him go.

Its been awhile

 Hey yall, unknown universe, noone hahaha

I made the original Adventures of Little Miss Me with a weird email account, so I had to recover it. Thus, it has been a few months.

I also realized that my first seven posts were written over the course of about six months and then published within a span of two days. It probably seems like I am a boy-crazed monster. It also does not help that I was in an Eternal Families class and had a lot of thought-provoking prompts given in class about marriage, relationships, etc.—and as we all know, I love using those essays for my blog.

Again, the purpose of my blog is that I have a tendency to have good ideas about things but never keep them in one place. While serving my mission for  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I realized the power of consolidating our lives into coherent ideas—the power of reflection that allows the days to not fly by but rather be lived fully!

But I have learned a lot in the past bit and will be updating this.

over all I'm grateful for the life I have lived. Im Greatful for the ongoing restoration! 

I know Jesus Christ lives and saves!  

enjoy 

Fruit, Faith, and friendship

 https://sweetnesssugarandspunk.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-power-of-becoming.html

A letter to a friend, 

the truth about to be read is my testimony, a letter that has reassured myself of what faith is. a letter addressed to someone to in hopes solidhy my faith. For faith without works is dead. faith and knowledge unshared is dross and will be lost. 

It is almost like faith in that one thing leads you to tend to it—it leads you to tend to other parts of the tree, which in turn nourishes the original branch you were growing. You do not just have faith in one thing. You have faith and begin to see the interweaving of your first truth and how it fits into the rest of it all.

We have to be able to endure the process in order to have faith in the process—so we can witness to ourselves and to others.

From my personal study today:

If we truly want to know, we must act in faith. Yet knowing does not produce the miracle. It is the process that gets us to the knowing that brings forth the fruit of miracles. You are a great example of exercising true faith and repentance—of experimenting on the seed to know if the fruit is good! Thank you for teaching me that the process of faith (which is action) over fear is not faith in results or complete knowledge before action. Rather, it is faith in the Atonement as a process, ( see previous post about Proccsess  https://sweetnesssugarandspunk.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-power-of-becoming.html ) and exceeding faith and hope in the Savior throughout the process. Trusting Him even when we don’t have the final product delivered  produces surety in the end. We see this poignantly taught in Mosiah 24:

as witnesses [or be able to bear testimony] for me hereafter, and that ye may know [Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, know that the word hath swelled your souls, your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.] of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

As we learn in Mosiah 18:8–9, being able to bear witness of God at all times, in all things, and in all places is what redeems us and allows us to live with Him again!

Mosiah 23 - 

are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

Jacob 4:

11 Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh.

12 And now, beloved, marvel not that I tell you these things; for why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him, as to attain to the knowledge of a resurrection and the world to come?

21 Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.

22 Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people.

I will talk about this next part more when we call later today—but simply put, it also says that we never really know everything for sure. Once the fruit has sprouted, we know that the fruit is good, but we do not have the knowledge of the whole tree.

 Like planting a seed, we nourish our faith through action, even before we see any fruit

I thought of relationships. This part of the relationship is good. If somone wants to know, thehhave to work until the end—until eternal life. Have faith in dating, and then have faith in working together. A knowledge of a testimony is a knowledge of the whole tree—the extent of the whole covenant. So, if someone really 

Has  faith in their relationship and in things, rhey will work for it all not just that one fruit! Faith and repentance take work!

Also it’s okay if not all fruit is to die for!!!! 

Alma 33:22–23:

...but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works.

23 And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen.

Alma 33:22–23 – link

another trangental thought 

Also, we must acknowledge our weaknesses in order to have Christ fill them. The man in Luke 18 had to cry out for Jesus to come near. Then Jesus came near and asked what the man needed—Jesus knowing full well that he was blind. Jesus still asked. The man responded. We must acknowledge our shortcomings. For we are no better than others. We can only say, “Look at them,” when we have fully looked at ourselves and prayed about each thing we need to work on. I think we also learn fro this is Jesus Christ doesn't meddel where we don't want him to. He wont insert himself and take away our agency. thus blessing falls into that same category 

poems

GHOSTS 

 you see him there — the ghost of what you thought could be yours.

You see him there, but try not to compare.
His hair is longer.
Now he still says he wants to grow it to the ground.

The days of saran wrap and concert tracks
being around like the symbols of a drum,
syncopated rhythmically,
but you said no,
hoping that fate would eventually show a smile on your face.

So you go somewhere only God knew you were needed.
He built a home,
now you’re walking off the stairs on a tarmac.

You hear the news — he’s found his one,
so I try not to compare.

But now I’m back.
I see him again — tall, dark, handsome.
So I imagine what could be a future, a fantasy.

Try not to compare.
It’s actually right in front of me,
but the distance is wide.

But we tried.
Gave my heart, he held it.
Reassurance was a given,
games nonexistent.

But then, once again,
a power from above said it’s time to end.
I swallow my breath and try not to have fear and grief towards God.
I truly do want to hold there.

HOW MANY 

How many heartbreaks does it take?
But as I drive past his house, or see an Acura,
a trifecta of memories floods.
I don’t think about what;
I think about what could be —
a dangerous game of testing your reality.

But what you don’t see
is their fears, their tears,
the bills, the pills,
the games they may be playing — give and take.

So look ahead — seventh time’s the charm.
But I truly do ask myself,
why?

Grieving the Imagined

It was this time last fall.
I slid down the wall,
tears crashed as he walked me back.

Why did I leave?
Why did I go?
Why did my path divert down this road?

Can you tell me, dear —
why did you leave?
Why did you fear?

But don’t stop on your path.
Don’t say,
“I want it back.”

Because you don’t know him now.
Many years down the road —
maybe it’s the same driver,
but his new car handles and feels unfamiliar.

Like walking through your childhood room, campus, or high school —
the walls alter but the same.
The smell still sticks thick.
The words girls say to themselves haven’t changed.

But you’re not there.
You’re not supposed to be here.

So I pull my car away.
Turn the blinker flashing — my heartbeat.

It hasn’t flatlined for you.
It just has scars to show me
that a heart can grow.

I’m not sorry I held you once,
but let me be upfront with you and myself.

HAND HOLDING

The progression of less hand-holding.

115 revelations were given in the first 8 years of the church's founding, as compared to 18 from then to now.
The lord will change how he speaks to us. We are his servants and then become his friends and eventually his children. With each of those titles progressively taken on more of his habits, characteristics, and image.
Just like the olive tree who at the beginning need lots of pruning, correction and tender care we too may need that at the beginnings then after time there will be occasional pruning or combination of what is right. If the lord is silent, it doesn’t mean we are on the wrong path it may mean that in the context of this olive tree, that we don’t need be redirected. Why would you prune a tree that is doing what you need it too.

“Without cultivation, the olive is a wild, unruly, easily corrupted tree. Only after long, patient cultivation, usually eight to ten years, does it begin to yield fruit. Long after that, new shoots often come forth from dead roots. [The appearance of gnarled trunks gives] the impression of travail—of ancient life and renewing life.’

The Olive Press: A Symbol of Christ,” in The Allegory of the Olive Tree, ed. Stephen D. Ricks and John W. Welch (1994), 2.]

We learn that in those first few years, much detailed direction is needed.

I genuinely believe that we learn correct principles by doing what he does. He no longer must ask us to do the basics because we are already doing them.

MARTIN COVE

 5.7.25

Poem

There I sat,
Dirt beneath my nicely covered feet,
A wooden log for a seat.
The sun’s rays beat down heat.
One hundred fifty years ago, some people were also here
In this cove.
Yet unlike me,
They had uncovered, bloody feet.
Yet they rejoiced
Despite their weeps,
Despite their griefs.
They prayed in faith.
Their life may be as broken as their feet,
Yet these ones prayed.
They asked the Lord to help them with their feat,
To overcome this mountain near,
To make it to a place secure,
A place among the hills so far.

Their answer was one of whispers,
They felt was almost gone unanswered.
Yet, as He does,
God did answer,
Reassuring endless glory.
“Trust in me,” the Savior said,
“Learn my words,
Remember what they said.
For on the morrow we shall conquer.
Relief and lightening will be offered.
Feats and feet were recorded.
Overcome by their lack of murmurs,
Hush your fear and just remember,
Their burden I did, and for you too will you be able to surrender.”

 

There we sat in martins cove together. I was xtremly y blessed that our “metaphorical company” was all banded together; no death, sickness, or starvation had selected us. The only thing slowing us down was a stomach full of warm hotdogs, bountiful veggies, cold potato salad, and hand-cut watermelon.

 

Our circumstances were very unlike the rest of the souls who gathered here, whether it be that this was their resting place or just a quick stop.

 

All these thoughts entered my mind, building on the last one with each step I took. Each movement reminded me that souls with faith and frozen feet trekked these very roads. A theme of this trip: walking the steps where those before us go, we learn abour their faith and mighty growth.

 

These thoughts hit around my head the same way a wagon wheel spins . I was snapped back to reality, viewing the paper book in my hand. We were in Martin’s Cove, and I was reading a verse in The Book of Mormon:

> 12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts. 

> 13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. 

> 14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. 

> 15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. 

> 16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage. 

> 17 And he said unto Alma: Thou shalt go before this people, and I will go with thee and deliver this people out of bondage. 

> 21 Yea, and in the valley of Alma they poured out their thanks to God because he had been merciful unto them, and eased their burdens, and had delivered them out of bondage; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it were the Lord their God. 

> 22 And they gave thanks to God, yea, all their men and all their women and all their children that could speak lifted their voices in the praises of their God. 

 

Mosiah 23 as well: 

> 22 Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people. 

> 23 For behold, I will show unto you that they were brought into bondage, and none could deliver them but the Lord their God, yea, even the God of Abraham and Isaac and of Jacob. 

> 24 And it came to pass that he did deliver them, and he did show forth his mighty power unto them, and great were their rejoicings. 

> 27 But Alma went forth and stood among them, and exhorted them that they should not be frightened, but that they should remember the Lord their God and he would deliver them. 

> 28 Therefore they hushed their fears, and began to cry unto the Lord that he would soften the hearts of the Lamanites, that they would spare them, and their wives, and their children.

 

I read these words and was flushed with the realization that these words were written for these people. The Book of Mormon probably meant so much to these saints. And in a very real and literal sense They were in this destitution of circumstances because of this book, because of their belief in this book, and they would also be delivered and comforted by this book too. The Lord didn’t get rid of their distance or transport them to the Salt Lake Valley, but he did offer another hand to lighten the burdens.

 

 

oh joy what more can I speak to this?

Can there be too much joy?

I say for behold, nay 

Where does Joy come from?

Comes from up above, I say

Comes from all around us

Comes from within

Comes from others, helping us look outside of ourselves

Oh, joy, Where does it stay?

Near the spirit

Near or far to stay

Neither I nor no one knows how to keep joy while going solo

So I buckle down with my dear friend of mine

The Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ to help pass the time

But then I realize time is a wasting and changing is what I’m trying and embracing

I love my God and he loves me. I will be what he will be.

Becoming one flesh In all things… Teaching principles of healthy spiritual sexuality to my college friends

The following is an assignment I had to To do for one of my Religion classes. I thought I would share not only for future posterity, but also because I have a desire to normalize talking about these things, it’s pretty vulnerable. Want to share but I hope you enjoy.

Also I am by no means of expert in any of this

Religion 200 “ Eternal Families” 

Section 025 tymansfeild 

Sexual Intimacy FHE

I held my discussion on sexual intimacy with six people: my friends Grant, Abraham, Aspen, Carmen, and Carmen’s roommates. Originally, I wasn’t planning to do this extra credit assignment because I feel like sexual intimacy is a topic I discuss with people all the time, and I wasn’t sure how to summarize it. However, after reviewing the online template, I found it very helpful. One of the key points it emphasized was teaching doctrine and using and teaching by the Spirit.

To start our FHE (Family Home Evening), we began with a prayer( to invite the spirit )  My friend Abraham offered a very insightful prayer, expressing gratitude for me and excitement to learn more. He asked for the Spirit’s guidance to help us learn how to become more like God and exercise faith in Him. Throughout the discussion, I felt like we achieved this goal.

Then to introduce doctrine we read  Doctrine and Covenants 49:16:
"Wherefore, it is lawful that he should have one wife, and they twain shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the end of its creation."

I chose this scripture because it was suggested in the online learning template, and I felt it covered three main messages I wanted to discuss:

1. Sexual relations and intimacy should be between one man and one woman.
   This principle helped us address issues such as the importance of chastity and the dangers of masturbation and pornography.
2. Becoming "one flesh" with your spouse.
   We discussed how this involves becoming spiritually, mentally, and physically united with your spouse, as well as with God. This led to a conversation about actions we can take to strengthen our spirituality before, during, and after sexual intimacy. Aslo we talked about how the law of chastity is an office of stewardship 
3. Fulfilling the ends of creation.
   This idea opened a discussion about the purposes of sexuality and sexual intimacy, including multiplying, replenishing the earth, finding joy, and fulfilling the divine purpose of uniting two souls and bringing new life into the world.

Something we also really enjoyed discussing was the idea of the law of consecration as a governing principle under which sexuality operates. We talked about how sexuality is a stewardship. Once I explained this concept, the Spirit taught me that the reason we have the law of chastity is because God has entrusted us with a sacred stewardship. A stewardship is something God is ultimately responsible for but allows us to take part in. In this case, it is the responsibility of creating life. Of course, He would provide guiding principles to help us fulfill this responsibility in alignment with His divine will. He allows us to act as stewards over the sacred and important duty of creating life, an office that carries both great responsibility and profound spiritual significance.

Overall, this FHE taught me a lot. I came to better understand the significance of the statement that sexuality is spiritual. That’s what I’d like to focus on for the rest of this reflection.

Halfway through, I asked the group, “What ways can we increase our spiritual understanding of another person?” We discussed scripture study and prayer. I then shared a list of ideas to increase spiritual intimacy within a marriage.

The first suggestion was to engage in deep, personal scripture study about sexual intimacy and the sealing covenant before engaging in sexual activity.

 The second idea was to have a deep, personal prayer where one spouse asks to see their partner as God sees them—through a celestial lens. Following this, couples could pray together while unclothed, staying attuned to God.

When I first mentioned the last idea, there was a bit of a knee-jerk reaction. One guy asked, “Did you actually just say that?” But then he paused and added, 

“You know, the world has tried so hard to separate sex from sanctity when, in reality, they are the same thing. Sex is sacred, so we should include God in it.”

This sparked a deep discussion about how, if sex is truly a divine gift, we should invite God into every aspect of it. 

I particularly loved the idea of praying naked with your spouse. 

While it might feel unnatural or out of this world, it aligns with the truth that sex isn’t dirty; it’s beautiful. We can’t fully include God in this aspect of our lives if we aren’t willing to be vulnerable—both spiritually and physically—with Him and with our eternal companion.

Ultimately, this lesson taught me that sacred doesn’t mean secret—it means being in a relationship with God. Afterward, I invited the group to read the For the Strength of Youth section on “Lawe and Chastity.” That was one of my favorite parts of the outline: it encouraged us to take action.

I definitely plan to have conversations like this with my future children.

fhe outline 

prayer : abraham 

Ask them what they think the law of chastity is 

Doctrine and Covenants 49:16

Doctrine and Covenants

16 Wherefore, it is lawful that he should have one wife, and they twain shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the end of its creation;

Teach the doctrine

• Man and woman 
• Pornography and mastribuation is selfish and not between two people 
• One flesh ( spiritually, mentally and physically ) 
• Become one flesh even with God– scripture study before hand and personal and couple prayers so you can see them as God sees them 
• Answer the end of its creation ( to multiply and replenish, find joy, and full the measure of its creation ) 
• Ways to talk about sexualtiy standards with your partner before 

Invitation- read for the strength of youth

question : how can we practise talking about sexuality with our S/o and others? 

FHE 

• Talk about the purposes of sex 
• It's not just about fulfilling the pleasure 
• Gain a testimony of the Law of Chasity of what it is 
• For your self 
•