Possibly Insightful Ramblings

In 1843, Joseph Smith stated that within the Russian empire "is attached some of the most important things concerning the advancement and building up of the kingdom of God in the last days, which cannot be explained at this time." Wow. If that's not exciting, I don't know what is. I can't wait to go be a part of it. It is humbling to think that only 25 years ago, nobody dreamed that the USSR would fall and that soon thousands of LDS missionaries would enter those regions. But fall it did, and the former Soviet Union now has many stakes of Zion with strong members and missionaries. As I have heard some of the stories of miracles that have taken place to allow the gospel to spread in the 'Russian empire,' I have been deeply moved and inspired. There have been divine manifestations and many great acts of faith and sacrifice as the kingdom of God has rolled forth in that region of the world. Where once the Iron Curtain of communism kept religion out, is no...

You know those days that are just so great that you would relive them over and over if you could? This past Wednesday was definitely one of those. For one thing, it was my best friend's 21st birthday. Which means partying and Swedish apple pie. And celebrating how awesome Megan is. Good times. Second, it was a Wednesday, which meant there was a distinct possibility that my mission call would come. When I saw the mail truck outside my apartment building, I was seized with an intense excitement. I jumped around and searched everywhere for the mailman. I think he must have delivered mail to several other buildings before he reached mine. I was dying. When the mailman finally reached my building, I ran downstairs with my roommate and family who had been up that afternoon. We stood by the mailman, who calmly finished putting advertisements in the boxes. Finally, he finished and asked "All right, which one of you is it?" Third, my call actually did come! The mailman pulle...