#TestimonyTuesday :)

I love this scripture! One morning in seminary during my freshman year, our teacher was sick and couldn't find a last minute substitute, so we joined another class. That morning they were working on memorizing this scripture as a group. The teacher pointed out that this is one of the fairly rare instances in the scriptures where an exclamation point is used. So this is a pretty fervent statement-- "That He LIVES!"

It is my testimony that Jesus Christ lives!

He lived, He died, and He lives again.

Because of His life, we may all learn truth.

Because of His death, we may all find peace, and even joy, in our trials.

Because of His new life, we can all return to live with our Father in Heaven and our families.

FOREVER.

For this testimony, I am eternally grateful!

For Jesus Christ, I am eternally grateful.

Have joy!

<3 Hannah Jo

#MissionaryMonday :)

One of my fabulous friends from school challenged her Instagram followers to join in on #SpreadTheSpiritWeek, and I decided to take her up on it on Instagram and Facebook. Then I figured that I could also do that on here. :)

" Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost." Moroni 10:3-4, The Book of Mormon.

I know that the Book of Mormon is truly another testament of Jesus Christ! I am so grateful for the light that this book brings into my life, and I am so excited to share it's message of hope with the people of Mexico!

Follow @always.a.missionary on Instagram and join in on #SpreadTheSpiritWeek!

Share goodness!!:)

And have joy!

<3 Hannah Jo

Called to Serve!

Once upon a time, I was a freshman in high school and I determined that I should prepare to serve a full-time mission when the time came. I was pretty pumped about it for the next couple years, but that initial excitement was nothing to the excitement I felt when this happened:

As I heard the announcement, something in me clicked. Up to this time, I knew that I needed to serve and that the age at which I could do that would be 21, but somehow it never really fit together. I wasn't worried about that, though, because it seemed so distant.

When President Monson made this announcement, I knew it was for me. I shouted for joy and ran around my kitchen. Seriously, my parents can attest to that. I was running around my kitchen going "YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!!!!!"

From that time on, my preparation took on a new sense of urgency, and I could not wait to get out on my mission!

So fast forward to my first year at BYU. I knew I couldn't submit my mission papers until February, but I started working on them in October because I was that impatient. Eventually, February hit, and my papers went in!

This was the day that happened :)

I was so ready to know where I would be spending the next 18 months of my life. It seemed like my call would never come. After a super long 13 days...(my friends who waited 3+ weeks hate me right now) I received my mission call! 

"Dear Sister Clark:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the México Ciudad Juárez Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Mexico Missionary Training Center on Wednesday July 8, 2015. You will prepare to teach the gospel in the Spanish language."

I was pretty much SUPER PUMPED! Except I was a bit disappointed that I wouldn't be leaving until July. I really wanted to leave in June. Nevertheless, I accepted that this call to serve came from God through His prophets, and His timing is the best timing, no matter what I think would work out best.

I finished up my semester, and about a week after I got home, this nifty email from the MTC showed up in my inbox. They said that if I had any Spanish speaking abilities, I should call them. So I had a language proficiency interview with someone at the MTC, and he said I am ready for an advanced class! Whaaa?! So I'll only be in the MTC for 2 weeks. I'll be in classes as if I were going English speaking, except everything will be in Spanish the whole time. Yeah, apparently I learned some stuff in high school and in my Spanish 205 and 206 classes at BYU this year! Then about a week after that interview, I got a call from my stake president informing me that this change would also entail a change in my report date and MTC location. So, I will now be reporting to the Provo MTC on Wednesday, June 24th!

With that, I have to bear my testimony that the Lord is so aware of us. He knows what I need, and He knows what the people in my mission need. When I was called for July 8th, He knew that my Spanish would be sufficient to change my report date to June 24th. He knows what we need, He knows what we are capable of, and He knows what we want. He will grant us our righteous desires as we continue faithfully in His work!

I can hardly wait to begin my full-time missionary service! I know that my Savior lives! I have a testimony of His love for each of us, and I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to share that knowledge with the people of Mexico.

Have Joy!

<3 Hannah Jo

If At First You Don't Succeed...

We can learn a lot from the scriptures. One of my favorite scriptures that a few of my Sunday School and other religion teachers have taught me about over the years is Omni 1:9.

9 Now I, Chemish, write what few things I write, in the same book with my brother; for behold, I saw the last which he wrote, that he wrote it with his own hand; and he wrote it in the day that he delivered them unto me. And after this manner we keep the records, for it is according to the commandments of our fathers. And I make an end.

So, he got the book, he wrote a verse in it because he was supposed to, and he passed it on. Awesome.
Now this scripture can teach us a couple things. It definitely shows us that it is important to keep records, no matter how little you are able to write about in your circumstances.
It also reminds me that I don't want to be that person who has the lamest records ever. Cool things happen in my life, and I'm gonna write those down!
Throwback to 2 years and 2 days ago when I was determined to keep up with this blog...

...and here's to trying again!

<3 Hannah Jo

Oh yeah, I'm in college now!

This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill. I'm seriously here, and I seriously took my first real midterm in the testing center today. I'm a college student!

Heading into the testing center for our Nutrition midterm. Go team!

So wait, how did I get here? Well, first I said goodbye.

Then there was a road trip. Then I got my ID!

Moved in, met tons and tons of cool people at New Student Orientation. It was crazy.

Can you find me?

This place is pretty cool. 

Then I started school. Like an actual student.

College learning is fun! Not sure what to study yet, but there's just so much to learn, and it's exciting :)

Work is fun too! Whoever said custodial workers are unfortunate never worked custodial at the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum.

Musk oxen are too cool.

Shasta the liger is my BFF.

I also take selfies with Otis.

And on Wednesdays, we clean the bell tower.

Just look at that view.

And I have all sorts of adventures. A picture is worth a thousand words, right?

Sometimes you ride in a service vehicle across campus in the pouring rain. Thanks, Courtney!

Free cotton candy outside the Wilk. Thanks, BYU Independent Study!

Yay for CES Devotionals with the University of Utah Institute choir, so I can see this lovely lady!

Sometimes your roomie scores a winning goal in a soccer game on her birthday. Like a pro.

And sometimes, it turns out you actually go to Hogwarts.

So yeah, that's my life! I guess I'll leave you with this:

Life's full of struggles. That's the point. But our Lord loves us more than we can understand. He is in every detail of our lives, and we can enjoy the journey so much more as we recognize that. Have joy!

<3 Hannah Jo

How About That Senior Year?

So I'm done with high school and headed to BYU in a couple months! That went by fast, right? ;)

I'll just share some highlights of my senior year.

In November, I visited BYU campus and took a tour. It felt so right :) there were even people standing outside the Wilkinson Center holding signs that said "Free Hug Friday" giving everyone hugs. It's my kind of school.

In February I participated in All State Choir again. So fun! I love singing with so many other passionate, hard-working singers.

Then I got accepted to BYU!!! :D

Yeah, that was one heck of a night!

And my awesome trek parents left this on my doorstep when they found out. How cool are they?

So over Spring break, McKenna and I took our first road trip alone. That was an adventure! We explored Provo and visited some friends in the UT. We're pretty pumped to be there in the fall!

Then, the school district was kind enough to give us a teacher inservice on Arbor Day, so McKenna and Matthew helped me plant some trees in my backyard! I love trees <3

I also won an iPad that night at After-Prom, so that was the luckiest moment of my life! What a blessing!

I had a MASSIVE grad party with 12 other people from my seminary class. Party of the year, no joke.

Speaking of my seminary class, we graduated that too! 

I love these people. Seminary has shaped my life more than anything else in high school. I am so grateful for my fabulous teachers and classmates. It wasn't ever easy to wake up that early, but it was the best decision I made every day!

Then I finished high school! Checked out and everything!

Then... I GRADUATED!!! Words can't tell how excited I was to graduate. I sang at graduation, and that was fun! :)

The tallest administrator and new principal for next year.

The locker partner/BFF/ninja.

The best friend since 4th grade.

The sisters who graced me with their presence.

The parents. :)

Then we recreated this picture from the last day of 7th grade. Well, we tried to. Elisabeth and Kimmy had to go and move... So Kaci and McKenna stepped in. #GingersChangedTheMost

In addition to seminary, something set this year apart from the others.

I had the wonderful opportunity to do baptisms at the temple at least once a month, and frequently more this year! It was a fun year, but it was definitely a stressful one. I am incredibly grateful for the refuge I was able to find in the temple. I am so blessed to live close to one, and I am so excited to start on my goal of getting there at least once a week while I'm at BYU!

I'm excited for the year ahead of me at school! For now, I work away trying to earn money to afford it. It'll be an adventure.

Have joy!

<3 Hannah Jo

Footprints

Well, this has been one incredible summer! Between EFY, Girls' Camp, Youth Conference, and traveling for the rest of the summer, I have not had time to post all the amazing experiences I've had. This summer has been a testimony building one, and I have recorded it well elsewhere. So when boring times hit during my senior year, I'll be sure to share experiences from my summer on here.

Recently, I got to spend time in Washington. While I was walking down First Beach in La Push looking at all the footprints, I remembered one of my favorite poems.

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.

Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,

other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed

that during the low periods of my life,

when I was suffering from

anguish, sorrow or defeat,

I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,

"You promised me Lord,

that if I followed you,

you would walk with me always.

But I have noticed that during

the most trying periods of my life

there have only been one

set of footprints in the sand.

Why, when I needed you most,

you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,

"The times when you have

seen only one set of footprints,

is when I carried you."

Mary Stevenson

Copyright © 1984 Mary Stevenson, from original 1936 text, All rights reserved

I looked at the footprints on the beach, and saw how there were several different sets, all different shapes and sizes, all heading different directions. Then I had a thought.

We are each here walking our own path alongside the Savior. It is sometimes tempting to look at everybody else's footprints- their depth, their distance, their direction- and compare them to ours. We should not try to determine how well each person walks his or her path, and we cannot determine how well we walk our own paths by comparing them to those belonging to others. What is important is that we do our best to love and serve those whose paths cross ours.

As I enter this school year, I look forward to the opportunities I have to learn and work hard. This year will not be an easy one- but I know that while I'm doing my best to survive, I'll continue to be blessed.

Have joy!

<3 Hannah Jo