My name is Abbey, and there are a lot of unique things about me. First, I'm a right-brained learner. This basically means that I'm blessed with high imagination and cursed with anxiety. Second, I'm a Latter-Day Saint, who is amazed by the goodness of the Lord and all He does for me in my life. Third, I am an unschooler. The biggest lesson I learned from this education is to love learning and to pursue my passions. This blog is a collection of personal musings that will probably fall into one of these catogories. Thanks for visiting!


*All stamps courtesy of Mirz123

I am a Latter-Day Saint

My name is Abbey, and I was born and raised a Latter-Day Saint (LDS).  We're also known as Mormons, although it's an older nickname from the 1800s.  If you want to learn the details of my religion or have specific questions, please visit my church's website at www.mormon.org.  This page, however, is about my personal experiences with my religion, and how it applies to other aspects of my life.


What Being A Latter-Day Saint Means to Me

1. Because Jesus Christ suffered the Atonement, I will live in the Celestial Kingdom (the highest degree in heaven) despite my imperfections.  This is especially comforting to me since I live with anxiety, and make mistakes every single day of my life.  I used to have perfectionism, believing that I was only worthy of salvation if I did everything just right.  Now I know that it's impossible to be perfect, and stressful to try.  But Heavenly Father does not expect perfection.  That's why He had to send His Son.  

2. I don't believe that my Heavenly Father threatens me with punishments for sinning.  If something bad happens to me, it's either because of a natural consequence of my actions or a natural event that comes from living life.  My Heavenly Father loves me and wants me to become the best person I can be.  That's why He gives me commandments.  I have the choice to follow them or not, and if I don't, He doesn't punish me; I'm just naturally unhappier.

3. A happy, lifelong marriage is possible if my husband and I keep Jesus Christ at the center of our lives.  Ben and I made special covenants in the Raleigh North Carolina LDS temple, so as long as we are faithful to each other and the gospel, we will live together forever, even in the next life.  Marriage is hard, and I anticipate difficult times ahead, but I trust in Ben and I believe we can stay together through life's peaks and valleys.

4. Having faith doesn't mean everything will go just right.  Even the most righteous people suffer tragedies and heartache.  When I was a young perfectionist, I thought that I could prevent bad things from happening to me and my family by being perfectly righteous.  But even though Heavenly Father has the power to do anything He wants, He often chooses not to.  This does not mean that Heavenly Father wants to let bad things happen to us, or punishes us.  What would be the point of faith if it wasn't tested?  When my anxiety was at its worst, it was the greatest test of faith I have experienced yet.  Heavenly Father wouldn't take it away, but He would help me every step of the way, if I chose to turn to Him for my support.  If I don't, He won't be able to reach me, and I have to rough it alone.  Whenever I am in my right mind, I turn to Him.

5. Life isn't about being better than the rest.  The greatest joys in life are found in loving and serving others, whether it is my own family or a complete stranger.  When I was a perfectionist, I used to judge others to make myself feel more secure, but after experiencing anxiety, I can't judge anyone anymore.  Everyone is fighting a battle and trying to do the best they can, just like me.  I wouldn't want anyone judging me based on what they see on the outside, especially if I'm having an especially anxious day.  I'm trying to develop Christ-like love, though I have a l-o-n-g way to go.
  

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