Doctor Who

I. Love. This. Man.

I've decided to raise the intellectual content of this blog by posting some of my school papers. Here's my Born Again paper for my New Testament class:

My born again experience is probably similar to many others. It closely follows the same steps outlined by Nicodemus’s experience, but I know that my life is unique, and my experiences culminate in a born again experience that is uniquely mine. I have come to know Christ as my individual Savior through my life experiences, and I’m grateful for the blessings that have come through those experiences.

Like Nicodemus, my born again experience started by “seeing the kingdom.” From an early age, my parents tried their best to teach me the gospel. We started reading the Book of Mormon when I was five, just a few verses at a time. It took us two years to get all the way through, but that was my first memorable introduction to the stories and a little bit of the doctrine that the gospel teaches. I remember having the Spirit in our home and being taught about Christ. I knew my parents had testimonies of Him, and so I tried to learn and gain a testimony of the same truths.

When I was eight, I decided I wanted to be baptized. I had felt the Spirit’s promptings before, and I knew that getting baptized was the right thing to do. It was more than trying to please my parents, especially my dad, who was also my bishop at the time. I knew that “entering the kingdom” was something I needed to do. I was especially excited to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost; I wanted to be able to feel that special Spirit all the time.

When I was twelve, I went to the temple to perform proxy baptisms for the first time. I went with my ward’s youth to the Atlanta Georgia temple, three hours away. I loved the Spirit I felt inside. I had never felt closer to my Savior. I consider that first temple experience one of my first “receiving of the wind” experiences. It seems that I’ve always known about the gospel, but at the temple, I first gained an inkling of my own testimony of the profound truthfulness of the plan of Salvation and Christ’s central role in that plan.

From there, I think that I have progressed in becoming closer to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know that they love me, and there is a specific plan for me. I know the Atonement was a very real event, and that it applies to everyone who will come to Christ and take hold of His hand. One particular experience drove this truth directly to my heart. I was flying home to Utah as an unaccompanied minor. It was dark and raining when we landed in Las Vegas, and due to some timing issues, I missed my connecting flight to SLC. I had to wait for the next plane that would depart at 6:00 AM, eight hours later. I was completely alone in an unfamiliar place, worried about getting home and staying safe. Fortunately, due to an over-packed suitcase, I had transferred my scriptures, to my carry-on bag. As I settled in for the night in the airport, I pulled out my scriptures and was able to read verses of peace and comfort. I prayed in my heart, and I knew that I would be ok. I felt the Holy Ghost with me as I waited that long night. That night I learned that Heavenly Father was directly aware of me and my unique needs, and that He loved me enough to send His Spirit to protect and comfort me. I came to understand that because He loved me, He sent His Son to die for me and for everyone. I became more aware that I truly wanted to return to be with Him and Jesus Christ and my family for eternity.

I never want to stop “receiving the wind.” I look forward to being able to continue to serve and make future covenants in the temple. I want to continue to progress and understand more and more of the gospel of Jesus Christ through scripture study, prayer, and personal revelation. My born again experience may follow the same steps as many others’ experiences, but I know that I have these specific experiences to help me come to know my Savior personally as I have become born again.

Applications

‎I'm told I should liken the scriptures to my life (see 1 Nephi 19:23). So I was reading in Mormon the other day. The opening verses of Chapter 5 just really seemed to stick out. So here they are:

1 "And it came to pass that I [the physics TA] did go forth among the Nephites [physics students], and did repent of the oath which I had made that I would no more assist them; and they gave me command again of their armies [homework problems], for they looked upon me as though I could deliver them from their afflictions.

2 "But behold, I was without hope, for I knew the judgments of the Lord [professor] which should come upon them; for they repented not of their iniquities [mathematical errors], but did struggle for their lives [grades] without calling upon that Being who created them."

Anyways, I think I'll be sharing this with the next physics 105 student who needs a prayer or two said in his behalf.

To the nice boy on the stairs south of campus:

Thank you. You don't know how much your simple compliment meant to me. You see, I had just finished a physics test on a Friday night and was walking home somewhat distressed about my score and the fact that I had no plans for later that night. I don't know what made you say "Have a good night." Maybe you saw my worries in my face. Maybe you're just that nice to everyone you meet. And then, to stop, turn around, and say, "I'm sorry, what's your name? I'm Matthew. Oh, Jenny, I just wanted to tell you that you look really nice tonight." was completely unexpected, so all I could say in reply was "Thank you." I hope I run into you again sometime, because I love being around nice people like you. I want you to know that I appreciate the few moments you took to tell me something nice, to completely turn around what was going to be a horribly worry-filled night. Matthew, you are genuinely amazing. I hope you know that. Thank you once again for, well, everything.
--Jenny

Thoughts in the Form of a List

Since I'm a list person today:

1. I should probably eat more than pasta and rice for dinner this week...
2. I don't enjoy taking two tests in one day.
2.5. I don't enjoy Music 201 tests that I don't feel adequately prepared for. On the other hand, Math 214 tests are just fine. I'll take one of those any day.
3. I have no motivation to study after taking two tests in one day, despite the fact that I have another test to take this week....
4. I had a happy birthday.
5. I'm no different than I used to be, despite being older. I like that.
6. Fall weather is beautiful.
7. I need to buy groceries. I don't even have enough food to make cookies!
8. My new blanket is so soft and warm. I like that too.
9. My roommates and friends and family are amazing.
10. I am tired.

Facebook knowledge

With everything that facebook knows, and the vast amount of data amassed on that website, the following shouldn't be too surprising:

Facebook knows when you'll break up

By Doug Gross, CNN November 2, 2010 1:05 p.m. EDT |

This chart tracks relationship trouble via Facebook status updates, which show a spike of breakups in the spring.

(CNN) -- Worried about when you might get dumped? Facebook knows.

That's according to a graphic making the rounds online that uses Facebook status updates to chart what time of year people are splitting up.

British journalist and graphic designer David McCandless, who specializes in showcasing data in visual ways, compiled the chart. He showed off the graphic at a TED conference last July in Oxford, England.

In the talk, McCandless said he and a colleague scraped 10,000 Facebook status updates for the phrases "breakup" and "broken up."

They found two big spikes on the calendar for breakups. The first was after Valentine's Day -- that holiday has a way of defining relationships, for better or worse -- and in the weeks leading up to spring break. Maybe spring fever makes people restless, or maybe college students just don't want to be tied down when they're partying in Cancun.

And let's hear it for cheapskates. The other big romantically treacherous time, according to the graph, is about two weeks before Christmas -- presumably as people begin pricing gifts for their significant others.

Mondays, as if they weren't bad enough, are the most likely day to break up. Summer and fall look like the safest seasons.

And, possibly showing that some people's sense of humor is more twisted than others, there's a spike in breakups on April Fool's Day.

What single day are you least likely to get a "Dear John (or Jane)" letter?

"Christmas Day," McCandless said. "Who would do that?"