Hark, All Ye Nations!

A few weeks ago, there was a group made on Facebook for women that had received their mission calls, waiting on a mission call, or planning on putting in their papers soon. It started as a little group, but has now reached about 2,000 members. Everyone that has their call has posted on the group wall where they’re going and when they are leaving so they can connect with other sisters that are going to the same mission. It’s been such a fun group to be a part of, and I can bet you that I’ve given up at least an hour of sleep every night this past week because I’ve been so excited about this group, these ladies, and the enthusiasm I am seeing from so many around the country/world, I’ve checked it regularly enough to have seen basically all of the mission calls of the 2,000 sisters that are currently in the group.

Well, Anna had an idea about a week ago, to get all the sisters that could come, to the Salt Lake Temple so we could take a picture and send it off the First Presidency with a note explaining how grateful we are for a prophet’s call, and how wonderful our time has been preparing for a full time mission. We wanted to show them the impact it’s made in our lives so far, and continues to make. So, an event was planned for Saturday, December 8, 2012, to meet in front of the Salt Lake Temple – every sister that was a part of the group that was able to come – so we could meet and mingle, and express how excited we were to be a part of this historic change.

This spread like wildfire. Soon, ladies in Rexburg, Logan, Provo, and La’ie Hawaii were putting together events, inviting all the sisters whose lives have been changed by the call to serve to get together and show their support for the prophet, service as a missionary, and their enthusiasm for serving the Lord.

So, Anna and I picked up some wonderful ladies that we’d met through the Facebook page (Marissa – Zambia, and McKayla – Brazil) and headed off to Salt Lake. We speculated on the amount of turnout there would be, but thought it was going to be wonderful nonetheless.

When we arrived, there were probably a good 20 women there, but soon they began to come in hoards. Eventually, we had over 200 gathered around the Salt Lake Temple, beaming with joy and excitement for the call to serve. This has been a dream for many of the sisters I met today, and it’s finally becoming a reality. The energy and spirit emanating from the 200 of us was so POWERFUL, it was tangible. We grouped around the reflection pond and began to sing “Called to Serve.” I thought I got chills when the Elders sang “Called to Serve” in the priesthood meeting of general conference, but this was… incredible. More than 200 sisters, with their mission calls, singing an anthem to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with all the veracity they could muster, because they believe with their entire soul that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true and living church, is beyond any description the English language could offer. It was something you had to feel, something that you can’t put words to.

I’ve had reassurances of my decision many times throughout these past few months, but right then and there, there was absolutely no doubt that what I was doing, what every girl standing outside in the freezing snow was doing, was the most valuable path our lives could take.

We said our goodbyes, but knew that it wouldn’t be goodbye for long because many of us enter the MTC around the same time, and went our separate ways. Some were interviewed by the local television stations, and watching them bear testimony tonight reiterated and restored the powerful spirit that was present during the afternoon.

In my personal preparations, I have often thought about the words of hymn number 264 “Hark All Ye Nations!”:

Chosen by God to serve him below, to every land and people we’ll go,

Standing for truth with fervent accord, teaching His holy word.

Oh, how glorious from the throne above shines the gospel light of truth and love!

Bright as the sun, this heavenly ray lights every land today.

I hope we reflect on that moment regularly, remembering that the spirit whispered to each of our hearts that we are literally among the ranks of God’s Army. We stand together as sisters in Zion and if we lean on the strength of those around us, and especially our loving Savior, Jesus Christ, there is nothing that will be impossible. The work is moving forward, we are a part of it, the long night is over and the gospel WILL light every land and nation on the earth. Oh, how glorious.

Proportion and Consumer Rights

The last few times we've met as a class, I've reflected more and more on consumer rights and ethics. 

The more I think about it, the more I realize that it is a civil duty for journalists to be ethical, and to provide truth and correctness to the audience to which he or she writes. 

It's the right of the consumer to know what's going on, and if the consumer finds they are deceived, the trust they have in the news diminishes. 

Unfortunately, human nature is to "get ahead" and sometimes people think that means lying, cheating, fabricating and just plain deceit. When that happens, unfortunately, the trust that was built is difficult to regain and the consumers feel that their right to the truth has been overlooked. 

As an aspiring journalist, I hope to be one that governs with ethics and a purpose to bring understanding and recognition to an audience, and gain trust within that audience. 

Mormon Media Studies Symposium

As I trudged through the slush over to the Conference Center on campus for the Mormon Media Studies Symposium for class, I hoped that my soaking feet, jeans, hands, and well... Everything were worth what I was about to hear. 

Mormons in the media has always been an interesting topic to me because, obviously, I'm a Mormon. 

The first session I attended talked about Mormons gaining publicity with the media, and coming into the spotlight. Originally, the media directed at the LDS church had been pretty negative, portraying our religion as a cult, devil worshipers, etc... Although a lot of that criticism and negativity has continued throughout the years, with the recent Presidential election and Mitt Romney becoming a very prominent Mormon, a lot of that media attention has turned towards curiosity and searching questions. It was interesting to see the difference in opinions between those that vigorously oppose anything that has to do with the church, and those that are truly curious.

The second session I attended dealt with The Book of Mormon Musical. (The good thing about writing in a blog, is that I can express my opinion. And sometimes, it doesn't match up with everything I learn.) This session, I found out that I never want to be a journalist that goes against the teachings of the church. I remember one girl explicitly saying how, if the musical had a rating it would be rated "R", and then goes on to say how wonderful it was and how, as Mormons, we need to be "open minded". 

As much as I agree with the last statement, I couldn't validate her opinion. I couldn't complement her opinion with my own, because I've always been taught that the prophet's word is not something to be taken lightly. 

Other than that, I found that the Church had paid for an advertisement in the playbill and thought that was a wonderful marketing strategy, because, obviously the Book of Mormon Musical is not church-endorsed, so most of the audience wouldn't be members. So re-directing them to the church website with all their questions was probably a really smart move. 

All in all, the Mormon Media Studies Symposium was intriguing and enlightening. I really enjoyed it.