This week Sorella Burkman and I found
ourselves in the midst of today's youth. We rode for about 30 minutes on
the train as the only two people over the age of 16. As I observed
these young teenagers and eased dropped into their conversations(what,
it is great language study) I felt a great sadness for these lost
children of God. It left a heavy impression on me and inspired this
unusual and strange weekly letter.
It doesn't get anymore missionaryesk than this, folks.
September 30, 2013
To my future children and rebellious teenagers,
Hi kids, it's Mom. Now before you roll your eyes and mimick me while my
back is turned (that is not a new trick, I was the queen of it) please
read this before telling me to get lost.
Today
you are faced with many challenges and society has determined the
standard. In the eyes of the world you must be the smartest in the
class, the prettiest girl or the hunkiest boy in the school, the best
player on the field, the funniest person in the world, fashionably
in style, up to date on the latest gossip, have the most "likes" on
Facebook, be perfectly thin or ripped with muscles - all while
maintaining the attitude of "I'm too cool to care what you think".
Society demands that you to meet the standard of "acceptable" or you
will never by anyone. IN today's world to "fit in" you must "stand out"
by shaving half your head, having strange piercings, smoke, drink, be
disrespectful, walk around with your pants on the ground and have a bad
attitude. Simply stated - you must change your identity to be "one of
them."
However, you have an identity that is not changeable
no matter how much you weigh, what clothes you wear, how much makeup
you have on, or how many friends you have. You were divinely created as a
son/daughter of a loving Heavenly Father. You may avoid, at times, His
presence but He will never leave your presence. For this very purpose, it
is His standard that I hope you wish to meet, not society's. His
standard will also set you apart from others and it will also be because
of what you wear, how you speak, the jokes you make, and the friends
you have. Most importantly, as you live by His standard you will be
different because of the light in your eyes, the knowledge you have and
the divine identity you have been given as a Child of God.
Some important man named Glenn L. Pace said, "The
commandments you observe were not given by a dispassionate God to
prevent you from having fun, but by a loving Father in Heaven who wants
you to be happy while you are living on this Earth as well as in the
hereafter...Compare the blessings of the Word of Wisdom to those
available to you to if you choose to party with those in the great and
spacious building. Compare the joy of intelligent humor and wit to
drunken, silly, crude, loud laughter. Compare our faithful young women
who still have a blush on their cheeks with those who, having lost their
blush, try to persuade you to join them in their loss. Compare lifting
people up to putting people down. Compare the ability to receive
personal revelation and direction in your life to being tossed to and
fro with every wind of doctrine. Compare holding the Priesthood of God
with anything you see going on in that great and spacious building."
Pretty wise guy, eh? Now back to your not so wise mother.
Sweet child of mine, you will be faced with
decisions everyday that will affect everyday of your future. This is not
meant to scare you but to encourage you to remember the foundation of
your Faith and the Love of your earthly parents, as well as, your
Heavenly Parents. Please do not throw away your eternal progression,
potential and power for a brief moment of instant gratification.
Just as society demands, you will be different - but
you have the tools to be different in a cleaner, more respected,
refined, wholesome and happier way. As you live the Standards of our
Heavenly Father you will be endowed with Heavenly Power and the courage
to live true to your divine identity. Remember it may by cool to wear
clothes barely hanging on but everyone looks better in spotless white. I
love you!
love, your future Mom
Sorella Alley
 |
| "wow" |
 |
| "Ancona, a nice building by some guy named Mussolini" |
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| "Sassy in black and white" |
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| "Typical Italy" |
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| "Yes." |
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| "A nice hidden Piazza" |
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| "Ilaria made the best Torta this week, literally Feast upon the words :)" |
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| "I love my Italian family" |
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| "Our best friend and branch missionary Valentina!" |
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