05/6
I remember a time when I was young sitting on my bedroom floor listening to my dad teach me about how the earth works. He grabbed a red kickball from my closet and drew a line around the ball representing the earths equator and a small dot representing where we stood. He turned off all the lights and shined a flashlight on the red ball as he turned it. I remember being so fascinated with everything he taught me. As a young girl my dad taught me many essential things along with Gods plan.

Attending church was a roller coaster in both of my families and I was never "forced" to believe the things my parents believed about the church. The times I did attend church I was happy but I never truly knew for myself whether the LDS church was true or not until I was a freshman in jr.high

As many know, my little brother Joaquin passed away January 2011. Nothing was easy during those few months. I would lock myself in my room and cry not knowing what to do or how to move forward from this situation. People would try to comfort me but the words "you DONT understand!" Came to my mind every time. One night as I was bawling desperate for comfort I turned to the lord and knelt in prayer. I had never felt such a pain in my heart but the moment I prayed for comfort a warmth rushed over my whole body and I WAS comforted. I knew I was being watched over. I knew I was loved. I knew I was not alone.

my testimony only grew as I attended seminary in high school. Many of my friends didn't enjoy seminary and chose to ditch the class rather than attend it. There temptation also grew..to go hang out with my friends..or go to class? It was a battle every time. Not going to lie I ditched seminary to go hang out with my friends every once in a while but every time I went to seminary my day went a million times better! Literally my spiritual nutrition bar! Crazy right? You might now even believe me..BUT IT IS SO TRUE.

At the end of senior year and the summer that followed I had officially moved into my dads house. My dads family wasn't active at the time and going to church was up to me. Looking to regain happiness I decided to take the leap and start going to church on my own. IT WAS HARD!! (Until I finally got my sistahh to go with me) I AM SO THANKFUL I DID THAT. I gained such a strong testimony.

Whenever people hear that I am a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints they immediately say "well you only believe because your parents made you..you grew up that way" and I'm here to say NUH-UH.

I have found absolute happiness and gained a testimony on my own for myself. Not for my parents..but for me. My parents have ALWAYS been examples to me& continue to to this day..but they never forced me to do anything and I thank them for guiding me in the right direction.

I am BEYOND excited to serve a mission& share the pure joy and true restored knowledge of the gospel to others who have yet to know! I KNOW with my whole heart that God is real , that he loves us. I know that Christ is our savior. He is our perfect example. He knows us all individually. He knows our names. He knows our pain, sorrow , anger. He knows what makes us truly happy. He knows how hilarious we are(Tehe had to) he understands us! Through the power of the Holy Ghost we are comforted and things are made known unto us. I know that we live in a time of miracles. I've been a part of many. I know God is watching out for us.He wants us to be happy and lucky us he's given us tools and guidelines to make that happen. He wants us all back in his arms. He loves you. You are his child. You are here for a reason. Your role is divine. You are a child of God.