Are Mormons Happy?

Someone not of my faith asked me this question this week. I have spent a lot of time thinking about it. Life is hard sometimes and I think we all have challenges and struggles. I also think there are happy and unhappy people in every religion.

However, I've been trying to pay attention this week to things that make me happy about being a Mormon. Here is my list for the week.

1. I am happy that people notice that there is something different about me. I was talking to another Mormon friend on Wednesday who said that we forget that the spirit we have really radiates and people are searching for that "light" that we sometimes take for granted.
2. I am happy that when I ran out of sugar yesterday I went to my food storage (that my church teaches us to have) and I had more sugar.
3. I am happy that when I go to church I have the opportunity to be corrected and can improve. Today we talked about the blessings of fasting and I realized that I needed to make a better effort.
4. I am happy for the opportunity to serve. Tonight I was asked to go sit with a sister who is extremely unhappy for a lot of reasons and I am happy for the hope that I have in the atonement of Jesus Christ.
5. Talking to and about my family makes me happy.

I went visiting teaching today (also makes me happy) and the message of why I'm happy came to a culmination in something Spencer W. Kimball said that was part of the lesson, "If we looked at mortality as the whole of existence, then pain, sorrow, failure, and short life would be calamity. But if we look upon life as an eternal thing stretching far into the premortal past and on into the eternal post-death future, then all happenings may be put in proper perspective." Perspective on life--where I'm going, why I'm here and where I came from makes me happy. Spoken much better by a prophet.

Since many of you who read this blog are also Mormon, how would you answer the question "Are Mormons happy?"

The Colorado Star Ball

Last night I went to the Colorado Star Ball with my friends from salsa. It was a ballroom dance competition for amateurs and professionals. Couples from all over the country competed in the American Smooth, American Rhythm, and Latin categories. (We weren't competing--just watching.)

I've never been to a real ballroom dance competition before; I've only seen them on t.v. It was incredible to watch some of these pros close up and thanks to Renee' we had great seats at table near the center of the dance floor. I'm convinced that the best thing about ballroom is not the actual dancing but it's the sequins, eye make up and hairstyles.

Here is a photo of me and my salsa friends. Renee' (the one with the curly hair) is my salsa teacher. The three of us are just a few of her "groupies."

June 15, 1988

Pardon me while I reminisce about June 15th twenty years ago...

This was the day I left for what was then known as the Soviet Union. I was a "student ambassador" selected to go on a peace mission to meet with students in the USSR and talk about how we could bring about peace between our two countries. Though the Cold War was kind of nearing the end with Gorbachev and Reagan meeting, it was not a place that Americans went to, certainly not 16 year old Americans.

I was so fortunate that my parents encouraged me to go and even paid for it. It was a trip that changed my life and set me on a course to study politics, Russian, and international relations. I had no idea at the time that my life would be so deeply affected by this trip. Since then I have made two trips back to Russia and several more trips to the former "Iron Curtain" countries. I love the people and I am amazed by their spirits.

Since this trip I have made many great friends because of my interest in that part of the world, I had a blast studying Russian at the University of Utah (even though I can't speak much anymore), and I gained a stronger testimony of the gospel along the way. While in the USSR we were able to have 2 sacrament meetings where I definitely felt the spirit in a communist country and came to understand God's love for all his children no matter where they live. It was a life changing experience at 16.

When I returned home I wrote this in my journal, "I will never take anything for granted again like clean water, clean hotels, the FDA, the Board of Health, air conditioning, soap, razors, washers and dryers, deodorant, money, tv's, radios, variety of food, shopping malls, and especially freedom."

Life 20 years after this experience is way better than anything I could have possibly dreamed and I am so grateful for the direction this gave me in my life.

So here is a photo of me in Red Square in 1988. I wish I still had those skinny legs!

I'm a Salsa Show-off

Last night I went to a church single adult dance. I usually don't go because I find them horrifying (to say the least) and about as socially productive as sitting in my apartment alone staring at the wall. Nevertheless, I went to support the people who were in charge because they are my friends.

I had pre-requested a salsa song because there is one guy I know who also knows how to salsa and we wanted to try dancing together. So, the dj thought she had fulfilled my request by playing a Latin pop mix of Shakira and Enrique Iglesias. Nice, but not salsa. So I went up to her and said, "I requested some REAL salsa music" and she explained that's what she had just played. I said, "No. I really am a salsa dancer and that was Latin pop." She was very confused as to why anyone would request salsa but she finally found something. I don't know how she could have been confused as I was standing there in my 3 inch silver sparkly ballroom shoes with suede bottoms. (Who's the freak at the church dance NOW? I mean really--who wears their ballroom shoes to a church dance? Uhh...I do.)

My friend and I danced and put on quite the little salsa show with some traditional salsa topped off by a cha cha. I must be attention starved because I enjoyed showing off for every second of those dances. I've been working hard for almost a year to be able to dance and it's time to start reaping the compliments. I had several people come up and ask where and how I learned. I gave out my name and email address and told people to let me know if they wanted to start learning and I would be happy to introduce them to the hobby. This is how I morphed from salsa show off to salsa ambassador at a single adult dance.

And despite my 3 inch heels and hip shaking, the night was as socially productive as sitting home alone staring at the wall.

Miss you, Grandpa

Today is the anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944. My grandpa Macey was a part of the D-Day invasion. He survived and made it up the beach. Several days later he was clearing land mines, stepped on one and his leg was blown off. He once said to me, "People always say to me, 'Boy, that's really too bad that you lost your leg' and I'd respond, 'I didn't LOSE my leg. I know exactly where it is. I just can't get to it.'" Grandpa always had the best sense of humor and he always had a positive attitude despite all his health problems.

We lost our hero 10 years ago and I know his children and grandchildren still miss him. I always think of him on the D-Day anniversary and I am so proud to be his granddaughter.

The photo above was taken in June of 1994 after my graduation from the University of Utah. Grandpa wasn't well enough to attend the ceremony so we went to see him afterwards.

Remembering Mr. Biggs

I am in Glenwood Springs, CO for an elections conference. Almost 3 years ago I was here doing a training with Kathryn when we were in a car accident at this intersection. We were going through a green light and one Wesley Biggs turned left into us and totalled the state vehicle we were driving. Because of my morbid sense of humor, I needed to take a photo on the median were I spent quite a bit of time for the cops, paramedics and paperwork.

Luckily Kathryn and I weren't hurt too badly but we also spent months dealing with workman's comp and physical therapy. The weird thing was that we were driving to this training class up I-70 through the Rocky Mountains in a blizzard and had to take a major detour through Breckinridge, even though we were trying to get to Grand Junction. We survived the hazardous road conditions and got hit going 20 mph in sunny weather.

Ahh...the memories!

All Hail Broke Loose

Last night I was out walking on the lovely trail behind my apartment complex when I got caught in a massive hail storm. Then my walk turned into a run.

It calmed down and then about 11:50 p.m. I was awakened from a deep sleep by what sounded like an attack on my apartment building. Oh don't worry...it was yet another hail storm. It was like little shards of glass were hitting my windows. Hard to go back to sleep after that!

Today I had to drive to Glenwood Springs for a meeting. What did we have to drive through? Another hail storm. Welcome to spring in Colorado.