My New All Time Favorite Speaker

well I guess except for the General Authorities and Prophet. ;)

SCOTT L. ANDERSON

He is amazing. Here are some clips of his talks:

http://www.byubroadcasting.org/findatalk/details.asp?ID=4548

http://www.byubroadcasting.org/findatalk/details.asp?ID=4440

http://www.byubroadcasting.org/findatalk/details.asp?ID=515

http://www.byubroadcasting.org/findatalk/details.asp?ID=503

All of the talks at Education Week were incredible. I learned so much. I've never cried so hard in my life, but my testimony has never been stronger. Some of the other speakers I heard were Micheal Ballam, Barbara Barington Jones, John Hilton III, John Bytheway, Brad Wilcox, and others who know so much about what they are talking about. As you walk around campus everyone smiles at you. You drop something and about five people come over to help. You climb over people in their seats apologizing and they just say, "oh no don't worry about it. We're happy to have you" All you have to do is put a look on your face that says "I'm lost" and someone gives you directions. I made friends with a bunch of people. We seemed to run into each other in every class because we all loved sitting on the front row. On the way to the Youth Dance on Thursday, James got a flat tire. Ten of us stayed with him to try and help and by the end of the evening we had a whole flood of people clamoring to help. Of course it only takes so many people to change a tire, but no one wanted to go to the dance unless we all went together.

I guess I should explain what education week is for people who haven't heard of it. It's a full week where the campus of BYU is reserved. Anyone from anywhere in the world can come, pay a little bit, and attend a week of classes given by inspired teachers many of which are professors at BYU. There are about 1000 different classes offered in the 5 day block. They start and 8:00 AM and end at 9:00 PM. I was surprised how many people I ran into that I knew from places I've lived in the world.

Guess What!?!?!

I got John Bytheway to sign my For the Strength of Youth book!

"Oh yeah oh yeah oh yeah yeah yeah no eating here tonight, no no no, eating here tonight you on a diet!"

I've been going to Education Week at BYU since Monday and he spoke today! Amazing! I can't quite get over how wonderful it was to hear some of these teachers. Elder Richard G. Scott gave a devotional and I sobbed all through his testimony. It was wonderful to 'sit at the feet' of a prophet, seer, and revelator, and feel the power of his special witness. When he entered the MC everyone stood until he took his seat. I've got to get to bed because it's late and I have more classes tomorrow so I'll write more later.

Scary!

I was looking at my class schedual for Fall and I started getting worried...check out the names of some of my teachers:

Grimshaw, Jeremy Nea
Skinner, Malcolm R
Parrish, Alan K

Now all I need is Professor Yuv Gonebroke and Dr. Al Islost and I'll be all set for a wonderful year! :D

My "Gig"

Here is a pic from my "gig" in Oregon.

Eggs Sunny Side Up!

Breakfast is officially my favorite meal of the day. Just in case you were wondering.

...

Mushu: Alright, rise and shine sleeping beauty. Time to get up. C'mon up, up, up. Get your clothes on; get ready. I've got breakfast for ya. Look you get porridge, and it's happy to see you. [to Cri-Kee] Hey, get outta there! You gonna make people sick!

Speaking of Mushu:

I'm travel-sized for your convenience. If I was my real size, your cow here would die of fright. ...Down, Bessie!

A loser! How bout' I pop off one of your antenna and toss it across the yard! Then who's the loser, me or you?

DRA-AG-UN! Not lizard. I don't do that tongue thing.

Fine! Dishonor on you! Dishonor on your cow!

Okay, this is it. Time to show 'em your man walk. Shoulders back, chest high, feet apart, head up, and... strut!

Man, I was this close. This close to impressing the ancestors, getting the top shelf in the entourage. Man, all my fine work--pfft!

Oh, I think my bunny slippers just ran for cover...

Then let's go kick some hunny buns!

My baby's all grown up and...savin' China...

Oh, sure. Save the horse!

You missed! How could you miss? He was three feet in front of you!

Did you see those Huns? They popped outta the snow! Like daisies!

...

President James E. Faust Passes Away

08/10/2007 11:55 PM MDT

President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died at his home early Friday morning surrounded by his family.

President Faust, 87, had served in the First Presidency since 1995 and as a General Authority of the Church for 35 years. A Church statement said that President Faust had died of “causes incident to age.”

President Faust was appointed second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 12 March 1995. The First Presidency is the highest presiding body in the government of the Church.
He had previously served four years as an Assistant to the Twelve (the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is the second-highest presiding body) before being appointed a member of the presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy (other senior leaders in the Church) on 1 October 1976.

His most recent assignments included vice chairman of the Church Board of Education; the board of trustees of Brigham Young University; the Welfare Services Executive Committee; and Deseret Management Corporation.
Bruce Olsen, managing director of Church Public Affairs, said this morning that President Faust’s “gentle manner and depth of knowledge, which was an important part of his ministry for nearly 35 years, will be missed.”

“He was a true Christian who spoke and wrote with wit and wisdom,” Olsen said. “Many members of the Church loved his unique way of teaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ at General Conference.”
Olsen said that Church members around the world are calling to extend to President Faust’s family their heartfelt condolences.

President Faust was born 31 July 1920, in Delta, Utah. He participated as a member of the University of Utah track team in 1938 and ran the quarter-mile and mile relay.

His college career was interrupted first to serve as a missionary for the Church in Brazil and later by World War II, during which he served in the U.S. Army Air Force and was discharged as a first lieutenant. In 1948 he graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor's and Juris Doctor degree. He began the practice of law in Salt Lake City and continued until his appointment as a general authority of the Church in 1972.

He served as a member of the Utah Legislature from 1949 to 1951, as an advisor to the American Bar Journal, and president of the Utah Bar Association in 1962-1963. He received the Distinguished Lawyer Emeritus Award from the Utah Bar Association in 1995. In August of 1997, he received an Honorary Doctors Degree of Christian Service from Brigham Young University. He was honored as a Distinguished Alumni at the University of Utah in 1999, and was awarded the Honorary Order of the Coif at Brigham Young University in 2000. In 2003, he was given the Marion G. Romney Distinguished Service Award by Brigham Young University Law School, and he was awarded an Honorary Doctors of Law degree by the University of Utah. President John F. Kennedy appointed him to the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights in 1962.

In 1998 President Faust received a Brazilian national citizenship award — an honor given to only a select few world leaders — and was awarded honorary citizenship of the city of Sao Paulo.

Married to the former Ruth Wright of Salt Lake City, they are the parents of five children: James H. Faust, Janna R. Coombs, Marcus G. Faust, Lisa A. Smith, and Robert P. Faust. They have 25 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

50 wonderful places!

Beautiful America

a "Zest for Life"

Before I left Saipan Del Bensen (aka photographer and branch president) took our family picture, then he said, "okay Tikla, Jump" he got a questioning glance and then I jumped around. Here is what it turned into ;) haha

My Life is on Cruise Control

I'm kind of just killing time until classes start on September 4th. I'm back in Rexburg with my daddy again and got to surprise some friends by showing up the their play. Speaking of plays since I've been in the states I've seen Guys and Dolls, Beauty and the Beast, a Jr. Miss pageant, and Deadwood Dick. I just can't wait to be IN a play.

I've lost track of how many bottles of lotion I've been through.

I bought a hair straightener and I loved it until today because for some reason it smells like burnt toast. I keep running into people I know or used to know. I was in the post office and lo and behold there was my 10th grade seminary teacher, Bro. Severn.

I finished the 7th Harry Potter book and liked it more than I thought I would.

Well there is an update.

Golden Days

Guess what I did today! haha brace yourselves! I went to Gold's Gym for the first time in my life. :D it was awesome! My grandparents have a membership and they were allowed to invite a guest for a day for free. I took a wieghts class once so I kind of knew my way around.

A bit ago I pulled/tore a tendon in my inner thigh trying to get my splits back. So I decided to try and get some professional advice (la dee da) on what to do for it. So I approached the desk of super buff, super cute trainer guys and told them my problem. Then for the next 20 minutes we contorted ourselves into weird possitions until grandma said we had to go. I can't remember a thing they said to do but it was fun! ;) no I'm just kidding I learned a lot.

Then I opened a new bank account! Woo hoo! College here I come!

By the way does anyone know where to get a pair of good tap shoes???

***haha now my fingernails are even painted gold! ;)

A Person Can Develop a Cold!

I saw Guys and Dolls the other night! The community theater put it together and I loved it! I fell completely in love with "Sky Masterson" ;) but the girl who played Adelaide stole the show. Every time I watch a play I can't help wishing I was in it.

Last night I went with Jenna to a "young single adults" activity. Yeah sure they are "young" single adults but I felt really old. *ack* We played cops and robbers around the neighborhood and it was a blast. I was a robber the second round and hid behind a pine tree thing. As the headlights got closer and closer I squished deeper into the prickly thing until I could hardly get out and my pants were full of poky things. youch! So finally coast is clear and I jump out and find a new hiding place, this goes on until I get sick of hiding and try a different method. Walk out in plain sight and pretend to be a normal person walking out at night. It worked quite well until I realized I was walking right toward a whole group of cops. I couldn't turn around or I would look suspicious, I couldn't go hide either so I kept on walking. I strolled casually past them with out anyone noticing until the last second and someone said "wait a second!" haha oh well.

News flash: I am an amazing stir fry cook, just so you know. ;)

I've also decided it's an incredibly small world.