Missionaries: It's Not About the WHERE; it's about the WHO.

People often ask me questions like,

"Where are you going for your mission?"

"Where do you want to go?"

"Where do you think you are going?"

"What if you get sent to Boise, Idaho?"

That's not what it's about for me. It's not about seeing some great tourist attractions. It's not about dealing with fair weather. It's not about the place.

....It's about the WHO.

Somewhere in this amazing world is someone that needs me; my personal strengths, weaknesses, outlook on things--I have something to offer specifically to that individual. 

I will deal with it whether that person is in Boise, Idaho or Paris, France. I want to go WHERE the WHO(s) are for me. The people that I can most bless.

Cause, really. Going on a mission isn't about the WHERE. It's about the WHO. 

Missionaries. Going forth and Serving.

I am so stoked to receive my mission call. I think about it all the time, and I feel the Savior's love in my heart.
How can this church not be true? I know that the women going forth to preach will bring joy to people' lives.

http://youtu.be/Bg74zh6GhY8

I keep watching this video over and over again. What great young adult men and women we have here in the church. What great missionaries.

yeah.

I Created This Video For My Advertising Application...But I Didn't get My Application in On Time.

Let me know what you think though! Luckily, I did get my journalism application in on time.

And also, my life plans have changed. So not such a big deal at all.


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I Hope They Call Me On A Mission.

Heavenly Father is so aware of us.

Really, he is.

Little  eighteen-year-old Amy Michelle Staker prayed around eight months ago or so for help and felt the prompting to make a promise to serve a mission based off of certain circumstances. 

And so, even though she had years to go, she started to prepare and get completely stoked about the idea of serving a mission(sometimes a lot ...sometimes not as much). 

She was lucky to have good friends. A friend who brought her to volunteer at the MTC. Which she loved with extreme love, seriously. Also, she went to a mission prep Sunday school class. 

She also happened to decide to take a semester off...and ended up working and earning money. The ONLY semester that she has not come to school (Yes, I went straight Summer-Fall-Winter-Spring-Summer) Which made her totally free for the semester...no school needed to finish up. And the beginning of money for the mish in the pocket.

And then came the news that missions could be served at nineteen and NOT twenty-one. 

All of these things miracles? Oh my, yes! 

So, I just want to say I'm grateful to have a Heavenly Father who answers my prayers and who prepares me for the things I don't even know are coming. 

Wow. Heavenly Father is so aware of us. 

He wants us to be happy, and he has a plan for us. 

Which is basically awesome. 

Red Light. Green Light. Red Light.

IF you've ever been a small child, and I'm quite certain you probably have been, there is a good probability that you, at some point in your life,  were able to play the game of red light/green light.

I, for one, have played this game on many occasions.

When I played, I understood the rudimentary rules. If someone yelled,"Green light," I knew it meant I had the right to run as quickly as I could. I also knew that when someone yelled "Red light!", I I had to freeze in place for the time being.

I wasn't aware however that in real life these rules applied to other things.

(I would like to point out that driving is NOT one of the things that these rules apply to. Though I do believe stopping at the red light is good, you probably don't have to completely freeze, and also I believe that driving off as quickly as possible is not the smartest idea.)

In life, things seem to stop us from getting to our destination when we want to.

"Things" can include problems that are self-induced. If we stand waiting for someone to yell "Green light!", we might miss out on the opportunity standing in front of us.

Other times, the red light may be what we want to reach if we just could. BUT, something or someone is standing back telling us, "It's not time yet. You just have to wait a while. Stop for a second. I can't let you go any further."

Yeepp.

Because sometimes worthwhile things take time. And don't come when we want it. Actually, that can happen a lot more than sometimes.

We can't get a college education over a day. We can't fall in love in a minute. We can't find true happiness in a second. We can't achieve a forever family in less than forever . (My forever family....cute, right?)

And lots, and lots, and lots of trials will slow us down, preventing us from achieving what WE want when WE want it.

Luckily,  after red lights come green lights. We may be told, "Stop! Wait awhile. The time isn't right yet," but God knows when the time really will be right.

And when that time comes, He won't just ask us to run. He'll help us to fly.

:)

Looking Towards the Future, in Life, in Journalism.

This will be my last blog for my principles of journalism class, and there are things that I think I've learned along the way.

Who knew that journalists were supposed to be such honorable people?

I don't know what will happen for sure for journalists in America, but there is a comparison that is often used for directions in life.

A train does not suddenly switch to a whole new direction as it goes along the tracks. It is in increments--as said by a prophet of the LDS church, 2 inches were all it took for a train to end up in a totally different state.

That's the way it goes in life. A small decision, taking a class in a certain major, who to go on a date with, whether to read your scriptures that night, those things create the person you become.

The world is made up of people's decisions. While I have grim expectations for this country in the future, I feel journalism is being taken down a more corrupted track inch by inch, I do know that there will be people who will stand up for things that are worthwhile.

The journalists that come from Brigham Young University, perhaps they will have the integrity to fight for freedom of the press.

When things come down to it, good will stand together.

Marketing Yourself as a Journalist.

There are a variety of celebrities in this world. Some are songwriters, musicians, actors. Others are athletes, models, bodybuilders.

Some celebrities are journalists.

There are obviously advantages to getting your face out there in the journalist realm. For one thing, YOU will   make more moola and have more options in working. Plus, come on...you could get fame...which is something many people want, right?

On the other hand, will you be doing your job? Some people like people just because they know them.
I'll be honest. If Matt Smith(The Doctor, Doctor Who) were to market something, I'd be more likely to get it. Just because...I idolize the television show. Likewise, people may believe what you have to say just because you are a famous journalist. Marketing yourself may make what you have to say become more about you and less about the information you are giving, to some at least.

So, just be careful.

Using Freedom of Press in a A Free Country

It's a free country.

I'm sure you've heard that before, and it's true. This is a free country.

For Journalists living in a democracy, our roles are of importance. We are keepers of the freedom. We use our speech to get the truth out there. The government can't get away with scandals and corruption, if we choose to use our gift correctly.

We may not stick to the role. But we should, and life would be better.

Up Against Hollywood.

Bright colors! Loud music! Intense effects! Well-known actors! Exploding things! Gorgeous people unlike regular human beings! AND EVERYTHING ENDS SO GREAT. WAHHHHHOOOOOOOOOO!!

Yeah, it's no wonder people don't care much about the news these days.

The news is somewhat dull. Boring even. And a bit like real life.

The news isn't filled with the sensationalism of Hollywood. People are homely. They don't all get to live happily and perfectly. The news is more real, yet it doesn't always feel real. 

I guess that's the challenge that faces news people in the world right now. How can you stand up against make-believe? How can reality possibly be as cool? 

News isn't created to entertain. It's created to tell, to inform, to give freedom. But people want things to be entertaining. They like a good story.

How do we deal with this as journalists? Do we write stories about Justin Bieber's GF and their dates last night so we can grab people's attentions?

No. No. No. No. No. NO.

Please don't. 

This is what I think journalists should do: BE PASSIONATE. 

Care about what you are writing, and it'll hit home. I personally believe that it's okay to be witty or funny. That's reality. Reality isn't boring! Sound like a normal human being instead of a robot. Some journalists do that, and people will listen. 

You'd Think Being a Mormon would Conflict with Being A Journalist...Or Not.

The expectations of journalists have been fairly enduring throughout the years. Journalists are meant to be fair, straightforward, and skeptical. They look at things from an angle of facts--not allegorical truths  or whatever else is not provable (at least according to The Elements of Journalism, that is ).

The expectations of Mormons have also been enduring throughout the years. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are meant to be fair, straightforward(yes),....and faithful. They are meant to look at things from an angle of hope--a belief in things not seen but real(by gospel definition). 

So, is it possible to be skeptical and have faith? Can someone be a journalist and a Baptist, Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Jew....? Will that person be able to refrain from having the window panes of their writing fogged by their own conceptions if they believe in their heart that something is true?

Yes actually. 

As discussed in class, faith is NOT blind. I know a plethora of educated people that have faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They know the history of Mormons. They have a testimony. Likewise, many people who have great careers and immense amounts of education...also believe in whatever religion that they happen to believe in.

IF ANYTHING.....

Religion only helps you to be a better journalist. Because believing in the concepts of religion--love, God, the worth of a soul--only makes you want serve your fellow men with stronger desire .

And serving  your fellow men is ultimately the goal of a journalist. 

Doctor Who is Awesomeness.

I like Doctor Who. Anyone that knows me well is aware of that extreme tidbit related to my life. 

I have a pet fish named Rory and a build-a-bear that looks like a tragically failed version of the Doctor. Also, I've put my young brother in the less than good predicament of enjoying a show a bit too old for his age group.

But the truth is....Doctor Who is awesomeness. 

There are many reasons for this awesomeness recipe.

1) Sky's the limit. Really though, no other show on the planet has the freedom to go about willy-nilly creating episodes related to any genre. Do you want monsters? Okay, done.  Do you want ancient history? You got it. How bout pirates? Yep. Spaceships? Always. Werewolves? Check. Witchcraft? U-huh. Vincent Van Gogh? President Nixon? Complicated plots? Love? Marriage? How bout all of the above? Doctor Who is an infinite playground of possibilities. And I'm not kidding.

2) Doctor Who is cool. Or at least he thinks he is. Which makes his witty humor all the more desirable and funny. He makes smart comments that are mildly amusing. And he makes silly comments that are mildly witty. He knows that bow ties are cool. And fedoras. And other accessories. Plus, he likes fish fingers and custard. Which is entertaining and cool enough for me.

3) Rory. I think that one word is enough to describe the awesomeness that is the British broadcasting TV  show. Rory knows what's up and such. He saves the day. And waits 1,000 years. And loves Amy. And he's a great character. And actor. And my fish is named after him.

Well, there are a plethora of reasons to enjoy Doctor Who, but  basically Doctor Who is awesomeness.
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