An Incredible Weekend!

This past weekend was General Conference.
I had the opportunity to go to the Sunday afternoon session with some friends (thanks for the tickets, Ty!). When we got up there right next to the Conference Center, there were (as always) the people protesting with their picket signs, etc. As we walked by one man, he said, "Now, I don't want to see any of you pretty young ladies marrying anyone like that Joe Smith!"
Well, sir, wherever you are, I want you to know that I intend to do just that! I intend to marry a man who is a man of God. A humble, loving, caring man who would be willing to give his life for the God that he knows and believes in. A man who loves his family dearly, receives revelation within his stewardship and recognizes those blessings as being from God. I know that Joseph Smith truly did restore the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth, and I know that he was an example of the Christ-like being we all ought to emulate. Because he followed the directions of the Lord and of the Spirit, I, along with 13,508,509 others, am able to partake of the healing, saving truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of his obedience and diligence, even until death, we are able to hear the words of prophets today and receive exactly God's will concerning what we are to do.
This is why General Conference is so incredible! The whole thing was amazing. The Spirit was very strong and I came out of it with a renewed testimony of the truth that we truly do have prophets and apostles who lead and guide the Church under the authority of God today. The words of peace and comfort and especially of encouragement were exactly what I needed. I especially enjoyed Elder Holland's talk about Christ's Atonement. I have an increased testimony of the Atonement and of temples and the power that this Church has as the true church, the one with God's authority and Priesthood restored in this last dispensation of the gospel. I know that I am so blessed to have been born in this time and that the Lord has a special purpose for me, for my being where I am at the time we're in, that I must discover and fulfill.
But what I know most of all is that God loves His children. He knows each of us personally and He knows our potential; He knows that we have the ability to return to and become like Him. I hope and pray that I can do what is necessary to become my best self, to fulfill that destiny and to please my Father in Heaven. He has blessed me with so much, and I know I am not nearly grateful enough. For my friends, for an eternal family, for the temple, for the gospel of Jesus Christ, for my opportunity to study at such an incredible university, for my talents and the opportunities to share them, for the chance to learn from other people and their talents, and for the small things that make me happy every day--for the sunshine, for perfect strangers who look me in the eye and smile on campus, for chocolate and polka dotted stuff, and for the basic comforts of this life. All these things and so many more, I know have come from the Lord's hand specifically to bless my life. He knows the things that bring me joy, and he wants me to feel that joy eternally. And by golly, I intend to do that too! His prophets and apostles have shown us the way to seek and be successful in finding that joy, and I will follow their words, for I know that they are inspired of God.