Christmas

"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:11

This is Christmas. Not about presents, or the food, or being in a warm house. CHRISTmas is about CHRIST! 

So, as you may know, I'm in Canada this week visiting family for Christmas. And on our first night here, there was a horrible ice storm. Ice covered absolutely everything. I'll post pictures later in a separate blog. It's truly beautiful. Anyhow, it left some people in this area without any power. Some people still don't have any power. Now, that's horrible. Not having any power for Christmas. 

Well, think about it. Jesus didn't have any power. He didn't even have a room! He was outside with his family, on a cold winters night. 

So, that's one point I would like to make, Jesus had nothing. He just had his family. That's one thing that Christmas is about. Being with family no matter what the conditions are. Even though your family may give you a hard time, they love you. Like they, you don't get to pick your family, so make it count. And in the end, family is the greatest treasure you can have. 

Another thing, I got on instagram this morning. Which if you don't follow me I'm @nicolaisananner that's both for twitter and instagram. 

Anyway, a bunch of people were taking pictures of their presents. Including beats, uggs, juicy couture, coach, etc. All of these name brand items that are extremely expensive. Yeah, it's nice to get presents, but is that what Christmas is all about? I refer to one of my favorite Christmas quotes.

“Christmas doesn't come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more....”

― Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Wow. Dr. Suess is extremely insightful. That is exactly what it is. I remember working at my two jobs this holiday season (at Charlotte Russe and Bed Bath & Beyond) and it being extremely busy. People are buying extravagant gifts at high prices. That's not Christmas. Christmas is opening your heart and giving something that is thoughtful. Making a sacrifice for that gift. Both God and Jesus made this sacrifice for all of us to forgive our sins. John 3:16 has all the proof right there that we are loved; that a sacrifice was made. 

All else that I have to say is... Remember the Reason for the Season.

Merry Christmas, everyone! :)

And here's my favorite Christmas song...

Just an update!

So, I've been super busy! I just finished my first semester in college last week, so I was studying for finals and was incredibly busy. Yesterday, my family and I traveled up to Canada to be with Family for Christmas. My mom and I drove up separately and we left yesterday afternoon at around 5:30...we got to my uncle's house at 5 in the morning this morning. So, It was a long drive. But we got here safely. Even through a really bad ice storm that Canada was having. Thank God for getting us here safely. He truly was looking after us; the weather was horrible! 

So, now I have a ton of things to write about! I have to write about a bunch of topics that I've been thinking of. And I also want to write about Christmas, seeing that Christmas is in THREE DAYS! :) 

So, I'll post that here in a day or so. :) Family comes first, and it should be that way for you too!

So, have a good night, and travel safely to wherever you're going! :)

I GOT BAPTIZED!!

December 7, 2013

Nicola Ann Morris was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! Woop-woop!

That was seriously the greatest day of my entire life..so far. :) 

I have never felt so good. I could feel the Holy Ghost in the entire room, and everyone that was there could feel it. I felt so good. I felt warm, and crazy happy!
So, I was a little late, because I had to work that morning. But I got there, put on my jumpsuit. And the program started. There were talks given by one of the Elders in my ward, and it was amazing. And then another Elder baptized me. It was super scary at first. But it happened so fast. I remember feeling so good. And beyond happy! I just want to share that happiness with everyone. I know for a fact that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost were there that day to fill the hearts of everyone. It was so amazing. 

I'm just so excited for this amazing journey with Heavenly Father. I know, and I testify that Heavenly Father will always find a way for you to be happy. He will show you subtle signs, but once you notice them, THEY'RE HUGE! And I testify to that. Heavenly Father has made this entire journey possible. And my family, friends, and my darling Richard have been by my side supporting me 100%. And IT FEELS SO GOOD! I'm so happy. I know it seems that I'm talking in a circle, but I cannot emphasize the amazing feeling that you get from being baptized and following in the footsteps of the Savior. 

And on Saturday, I was so surprised at the support from people that I haven't met before or didn't even know. It just shows that Heavenly Father cares about all of us, and it really shows that we are all brothers and sisters. We care about people that we don't even know. And it makes me over joyous! 

There was a family at my baptism, who I have never met before. Got me a card to congratulate me and show their support. LIKE WOAH! I have never felt so loved. 

Then, Sister Wood (one of my missionaries) :) her family sent me baptism gifts. I was so surprised, and I felt love all the way from Utah! Every day I'm thinking of the Wood family for their selfless thoughts, and I feel so loved. It's like a second family you've never met before. But there is love, and it will always be there! 

Then, Sister Wood and Sister Larkin gave me a small gift, but a gift that means the world to me. Something I'll treasure for the rest of my life. A gift given by my newest and bestest friends. 

Then, a good friend that I've made in the church, Katie, gave me a gift that I love. I feel so blessed to have gotten these gifts. I did not expect it at all.

Then, such amazing people within the church help put up such an amazing program, with amazing music. I could seriously feel the love.

My family and Richard weren't able to make my baptism due to other obligations. (I know they support me to the moon and back, so I understand why they couldn't make it), so I figured no one would come. But I walked into the room, and it was packed. Like. Wow. I feel loved. 

 I thought that getting baptized alone was such a great blessing in itself, but to have the support from all of these wonderful people is just amazing. I feel loved, not only by Heavenly Father, but by all of these amazing people in my life. I hope that I will always have these amazing people in my life. They all mean so much to me, and have made such a great impact in my life already. And I know this is one of the many blessings that Heavenly Father has given me in doing whatever I can to be baptized and to follow the righteous path. 

I feel so loved, and I don't know how to explain that. I am just so happy. And I could not have made it to this point in my life without everyone that has helped me. 

It's wonderful. I love it. All I can say, is that this is what true joy is. It is a promise that Heavenly Father makes if we take these steps. This is the truth. The Gospel is the truth, and this church is the truth also. 

And I promise to do whatever I can to make as many people see that this is the truth. And if this testimony of mine has swayed you in any way, don't be shy to find out more. Because this the truth. This is true joy.

And I say all of these things in the name of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Everything Happens For A Reason

So. Today has been a tough day for me. I woke up late...again. Lol.

Then, I went to the PRT to go to the downtown campus to go to my class. I had gotten there just in time to catch the next PRT ride. However, the gentlemen on the cart would not hold the door open for me as I walked down the steps and swiped my card to get onto the cart. And then the door closed and left me. So I had to wait to get the next ride, which in turn, making me late for my Religion class. 

When I got on the next cart, I rode to downtown, and then it started POURING RAIN! And I had no choice but to go to class, since I was already late. BUT!! Get this. I had totally forgotten that the missionaries here in Morgantown were having a booth on main campus and giving out hot chocolate! So, everyone greeted me very cheerfully and handed me a cup of hot chocolate. Which was delicious, by the way! :) 

Then, I made my way to class, and my professor was discussing grades with us. And I got an A in the course! Which is awesome. Which brings me to now. Sitting in the library, writing this blog. 

Which makes me think. Yeah, I had a bad morning. I was late, I got soaked by the rain....but. Is it really that bad? I thought about it. I got to experience one of God's greatest gifts. RAIN! :) and it was wonderful. And being late, God allowed that to happen for whatever reason. If I was early, I could have been in a car accident. 

No matter what happens in life, somehow it is a gift from God. And, if we follow each of his commandments and laws, everything that happens, is a blessing! :)

Have a good day. Make it count. :)

Black Friday

So. I've been absent from the blog for a while. I was really sick at the beginning of last week. I had a sinus infection and I still have it. :( and then Thanksgiving happened, which was awesome.

And then...Black Friday.

I had to work 12 hours at Charlotte Russe and then had to work another 7 at Bed Bath and Beyond. So I worked 19 hours straight on Friday. Then Saturday I worked 8 hours. And then Sunday. I went to church and then slept. I needed it. 

Anyway! I will say I needed a lot to get through this past weekend. So I really prayed for the patience and strength to get through it.

And you know, I think it helped. Praying to Heavenly Father really helped me get through that long day. And I had prayed to him days in advanced knowing that it would have been a long and difficult day. 

So. My message for today is...PRAY! Pray, even if things aren't bad. Keeping in touch with Heavenly Father is really important and will keep your relationship strong.

So. Go Pray. :)

Feel Good Friday! Thanksgiving!

Heyyyyyy!!! Happy Friday! The week is over and it is time for break! :) 

So, For today, I'm gonna talk about Thanksgiving. Seeing as it's almost here. :) I'm super excited. I'm going to spend it by going to a really good family friend with my family and then I will also go to my boyfriend's family's house for it! I'm so grateful and super excited. I'm planning on making Key Lime Pie for both places that I'm going! WOO! 

Basically, for Feel Good Friday, every Friday I want to pick a topic. Something that is happening in the world, something close to my heart, whatever. I'll talk about it, what it means to me personally and then relate it to the Gospel. I'll make a video for each of them, to make it more fun! :)

So here's my link to my video and my youtube channel. Sorry about the thing in the middle of my face, my video editor wouldn't work with me. :( So I hope it's ok. 

Here's  link to a video that really puts rich vs. poor in perspective.

Life of Poor and Rich People

Now for my feel good :)

And watch this one too, it's super fun and it makes my day better! :)

Another feel good. :)

Have a FAB FRIDAY! :) 

One word

Today, I wanted to write about something so totally amazing that it blew my mind. I was reading the Book of Mormon. I was reading 3 Nephi 27. It talks about the gospel of Jesus Christ. So it verse 14 it says:
"And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me,..."

MIGHT?! what? might? Did you just read that too....Don't believe me? http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/27 Just scroll down to verse 14. It says there, might. 

So let's see...the word might, according to Google means: 

So Jesus Christ MIGHT have been crucified. And men MIGHT have followed him....So, God, who is all knowing doesn't know this would have happened indefinitely?! Wow. Does this not blow your mind. It sure blew mine! So, God has everything figured out for us, but there's a might with everything in our lives. It just depends on us. What decisions we make and what we do with the consequences of those decisions. It's not that GOD himself allows all these horrible things to happen in the world, it is what WE have chosen what to do. 

For instance, 9/11 happened not because God was punishing us. It happened because there were men who DECIDED to do horrible things. God will always be there to help us through those trials and tribulations. That's why he has given us the scripture, to help us through rough times. Then to also make the best decision. 

So in LDS, they believe in this thing called Agency. Which means God gives us the choice to choose between good and evil and to choose what we do in our lives. This is amazing to me. God gave man the choice whether or not to crucify Jesus. 

So now the question is, what if man did not crucify him? How would he have died for our sins. Would he ever have died for our sins? Just because of ONE WORD in the scripture, that could change absolutely everything. 

So this is so powerful. We can choose what we want to do in our lives, but since Jesus Christ did die for us and cleansed our sins from us, it's ok to make mistakes. We just need to repent of those sins. 

Think about it. What are you DECIDING to do in your life? Are YOUR decisions what God would want you to make? God has given you the CHOICE do things, are you choosing to do what is right?

What have I learned?

Now that's a question...
     I don't even know where to start....Let's start with this...

So this is one thing that Sister Wood showed me that was a huge revelation to me! So, I'm a math nerd. and if you have a point (x,y), there an infinite number of lines that can go through that point. BUT! If you have two points, (x,y) and (a,b), then there is only one line that can go through it. This is absolute amazing to me, and it lifts me with such joy, to know that there is a tool, a gospel, that can make us understand the Bible so well, that there could be one, FINITE, interpretation. This brought such joy to my heart, and it still does. 

So then, at each of our lessons, Sister Wood and Sister Curtis gave me these pamphlets that go along with what they would teach me. So, I have a collection of pamphlets and they each describe different theories and ideas of LDS. Then they also give additional scripture studies that you could do to understand that topic further and why God has given us these laws and such. Which is awesome. I like textual evidence. 

The pamphlet I'm going to write about here has the title, "The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ". It talks about how the Book of Mormon was told to Joseph Smith and that he needs to tell the people about it. It is believed that God was angry with people killing the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ and then told them that he was going to take away the gospel so that it wouldn't be misused and abused. Which, come to think about it was a right thing to do. If you're not going to use something that is a blessing and you're going to take it for granted, then it should be taken away. 

So, then when God and Jesus Christ showed themselves to Joseph Smith, they told him about these plates, that the prophets had written about the scripture. That is going to "restore" the church. Which is awesome. These scriptures are written like the EXACT same time that the bible was written. And I'm taking a Hebrew Scriptures class, and the information and dates match up. Which is awesome. 

Then it also explains what a person should so that they'll be saved. Like, by baptized, study scripture, etc. 

So, I've been reading different scriptures about Jesus Christ...and I have found so much! like. Wow. But, maybe my challenge for you is to find them for yourself. ;)

Who am I?

Hi!
My name is Nicola Morris! I'm a math <3 major at West Virginia University. I was born in Pretoria, South Africa and moved to Morgantown, WV in 2004.
I grew up in an Evangelical church back in South Africa. In all honesty, I don't think it really meant much to me. Like most people say, I was too young to understand. Which is the truth. I truly did not understand who God was, what He was doing for me or let alone the human race. I also didn't understand what they big deal was with Jesus Christ dying on the cross for us and then being resurrected. Big deal? Right? I was like 10 years old when I moved to WV.
Then, in WV, my family decided to join a Methodist Church. I was then confirmed in the Methodist Church when I was in 6th or 7th grade. (I don't remember exactly when)
In 2010, the church offered me a job to work in the nursery that would take care of infants up to the age of 3 during the church service. I took it. Due to this, I didn't really have time to pay attention to the sermon or really get rooted in my faith. Which is a big bummer.
I then discovered that I had severe depression and anxiety. And it was bad. I saw a therapist and went through everything to get better. Due to my depression, I was angry with God. I know, that sounds horrible. You can't be angry with God. Well, you know, sometimes in your life that's what needs to happen so that you can get reestablished in your faith.
But, anyway! I then decided to check out other religions. I particularly looked into Buddhism. That really helped me with my anxiety. Which was a win! The things that Buddhism taught me is to just take it easy. Not every thing is your fault. I still follow Buddhist twitters, because the things that they say is extremely inspiring. Check it out. :)

A few months later, I graduated high school, and then started college in the fall. I was taking a class Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) which was super interesting. (part of the story) So that brings us to about now.

Back in October...October 5, 2013 to be exact. I was walking to go study my math. I ran into a Mormon Missionary...we got talking and just talked about everything. I knew a little bit about the Church of the Latter-Day Saints. My father had looked into it at some point. I even had the Book of Mormon in my library (I never read it though). It just sat there gathering dust.
After talking to her for about an hour and a half, Sister Wood invited me to meet with her and her companion (Mormon Missionaries always go in pairs)

I met with them the very next day, they gave me a copy of the Book of Mormon. I started reading it. I like to correlate things to every thing. And it was AWESOME! I loved reading the Book of Mormon (and still do).
It says on the book itself Another Testament of Jesus Christ...so really important.

It elaborates everything that the Bible is telling...However, of the things that I've learned in my Hebrew Scriptures class...there are parts of the Bible that are just horrible. Especially in the Old Testament, it portrays God as someone you should fear...Not very comforting, right?

And then, It just kinda clicked for me...We met a bunch of times after that (which I'll explain later), that maybe Mormonism is for me.

So...This is not even close to all of me...but you'll get to know me. :)

God Bless You!