Come Up To The Mountain- The Oquirrh Mountain LDS Temple Celebration

This August, the 130^th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints will be dedicated in South Jordan, Utah. It will be the 13^th temple located in Utah and is called the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. “Oquirrh” is a Goshute Indian word meaning “wooded mountain” or “shining mountains”. It is pronounced “oak-rr”.

The youth of the surrounding area have been anxiously awaiting the dedication of this temple and have been involved by participating in a grand celebration held at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on May 29-30. They have practiced their performances for months to be ready for the event. Not only have they practiced but they have become involved in a media presentation of the event for the entire world to see. A blog called Come up to the Mountain was formed to inform and include anyone, in any area, in the celebration. They have even started a project called “What will I give” to coincide with the temple dedication.

In their own way, these cool LDS youth have made the Oquirrh Mountain Temple a part of their lives. In what way can you make the Temple a part of yours?

LDS Surfing Champion Joy Monahan

Did you know that the Women’s Longboard world champion, Joy Monahan is one cool LDS girl? Being raised in Oahu Hawaii, Joy is the first Hawaiian female to gain the ASP Women’s World Longboard Champion title.

Joy Monahan attends BYU Provo, so training for her sport can be trying at times...no waves!

Joy is not only really cool because of her surfing skills, she is also a really great example of someone who really tries to live what they believe. Featured in the May 2009 New Era magazine, an article called “Pure Joy” talks about Joy’s commitment to modesty.

“When a Hawaiian swimsuit company approached surfing pro Joy Monahan and offered to be her sponsor, the Honolulu native had some reservations. ‘I told them, ‘I really only wear modest one-piece suits.’’ So they worked with Joy to design a swimsuit that was both modest and functional for surfing. They even named it after her, and it has since become one of the more popular swimsuits of their line.

It’s also the one Joy wore last July in Biarritz, France, where at age 23 she topped 47 international competitors to become the Women’s World Longboard Champion. The first surfer from Hawaii to win that honor, she calls the experience the fulfillment of a longtime dream.

‘I just started to cry when I heard the final horn blow and I knew that I had won,’ she says with a smile that stretches almost as long as her surfboard. ‘I’d worked so hard on that goal.’

Joy stands out not only on the waves, but also among her peers for her high standards. She says that most people know she won’t do things like smoke or drink, and they respect her decisions.

‘At the awards ceremony after the championship, the girls were spraying each other with champagne. Most of the girls knew that I didn’t drink, but one girl poured a beer on my head,’ she explains. ‘The other girls were like, ‘You can’t do that to her!’ So she came back with a water bottle and sprayed me with water instead.’

Being ‘the Mormon girl’ and sticking to her principles isn’t always easy, Joy says. ‘For example, it’s hard, wherever you live, to be modest because so much of fashion is very revealing. It takes a little bit of courage to stand out and be different.’

But it’s worth it. ‘Whether it’s easy or it’s hard, do what you know is right. Then you can feel good about yourself.’

Joy lives up to her name. She’ll quickly tell you that the joy she feels comes from living the gospel. ‘It changes lives and makes them better. Along with my family, it’s my number one priority.’”

Thank you Joy Monahan for being one really cool LDS girl.

Are You The Same As Other Mormon Girls?

Do you consider yourself the same as other LDS girls? I mean, are you alike when compared to your friends who are Mormon, too? Most of us consider ourselves unique, and might even take pride in being different. As I have the opportunity to meet and hang with many different "types" of LDS young women, I am amazed at how different they really can be. But what I love best, is that in those things that truly "matter", most LDS girls are very much on the same page. And that is a GOOD thing!

We can appreciate the differences in each other, by our talents, opinions, activities, looks, etc... but we must also value those things that make us ONE. These are the exact things that will ultimately draw others to us, as well.

Think about it? Have you recently had a difference of opinion with another member of the Church? Probably so. You know, we don't all think alike, regardless of our religious teachings. However, we become and remain unified by our understanding of eternal principles, that become all of our ultimate guides.

I don't always agree with other members of the Church, about this or that -- but I do know that for the most part, we are all striving to live the principles of the gospel in the best ways we know, and understand.

I enjoyed this video about"What Mormon Teens are Like", because of this very example of how our lives help to strengthen each other, and our desire to live the gospel every day!

What's Important To Most Mormon Girls

tDMg
LdsNana

Have You EVER Thought LDS Leaders Are Out Of Touch?

If you've ever thought that our LDS leaders are out of touch with reality, you might just change your mind after watching this video about Sex, Pornography, and Immorality!

Sometimes when we just listen to a talk during conference, it's easy to just let slide by what these inspired men are trying to tell us - thinking they don't get it. But listening to this disciple of Jesus Christ, along side of this stunning imagery - might just cause you to re-think - that these guys DO know a thing or two!


The Truth about Sex, Pornography, and Immorality


tDMg
LdsNana

LDS Youth - Be Thou An Example Of The Believers

Here on KooLDSgirlZ, we LOVE the youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! This is the latest video released on the LDSPublicAffairs YouTube channel...

"The youth of the Church welcomed 2009 with an energetic display of unity and commitment to gospel principles during a special celebration at the Conference Center called A Brand New Year.

Thousands of youth gathered in Salt Lake City in early November for this performance that featured music and dance and messages of encouragement and hopeAll while broadcasting the greetings of even more Latter-day Saint youth from around the world.

Recorded before a live audience, A Brand New Year was sent out as a DVD to stakes throughout North America to be used as part of New Years activities for more than 500-thousand youth.

Original songs written for the evenings events were performed by an orchestra of 80 youth and a choir of 400. 18 young men and women headlined the night on stage and helped showcase the talent of the youth of the Church. The dominant message: set your standards high wherever you are, and remember you're not alone.".

tDMg
LdsNana

Virtue: My Three White Dresses

In the 1993 October General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Elder L. Tom Perry gave an address called “Choose the Right.” In his talk he discussed the importance of choosing the right.

He testified, “I hope and pray that you great young people of the Church will have the courage to consistently choose the right! Moreover, I suggest that each of you find or create reminders to help you and your loved ones choose the right when a choice is placed before you. There is power in a tie tack, a CTR ring, or a white dress hanging in the closet if we associate them with our desires for purity and righteousness. Even more important than physical reminders is to have the conviction deep down in our hearts to live the kind of life that will cause us to make the right choices, not only for peace and happiness in the world right now, but also for peace and happiness eternally.

I promise you that you will receive everlasting happiness if you consistently choose to do what is right.”

In this talk he introduced a poem that was written for his granddaughter by her mother and recited at her baptism called,

My Three White Dresses

My mom bought me a white dress,

Not red or pink or blue.

She said it was a special dress

Like very other few.

There has been just one before,

A dress now put away,

That I wore some time ago

Upon my blessing day.

As a little baby clothed

In my first white dress,

My dad held me in his arms,

There to name and bless.So pure and clean was I just then,

With time to grow and learn

About the Father’s plan for me.

My glory I must earn.

Now I’ve reached the age to judge

The wrong road from the right,

And I am here to be baptized

In this dress of white.

So once again I’m free from sin.

The path is clear to me.

I’ll grasp the rod and hold on tight,

I vow with certainty.

Just as mud would stain my dress,

Sin would stain my soul.

The key is to repent or bleach,

For whiteness is my goal.

And if I try my very best,

Then richly blessed I’ll be,

Wearing inside God’s holy house

White dress number three.

So today I make this pledge:

I’ll strive to choose the right,

Through this sacred baptism ordinance

In my second dress of white.

(Linda Gay Perry Nelson, 1993)

Today cool LDS girls are reminded of that poem by this new great Mormon Message. I hope you enjoy it!