If I had to play the game of would you rather, and the options were to live in this room for 12 years straight or live in the world of Hey Arnold for a day, I'd pick the first hands down (and not just because the pigeon guy in Hey Arnold creeps my guts out) 

It's because this is one of my favorite rooms in the Entire World. 

You could say I am a Joseph Smith groupie (as a church, we do not worship him, we worship our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ :)) AND TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST WITH YOU, I never even understood why Joseph Smith was a big deal. He went through heck. He was the most Faithful and true person I have almost ever heard of. This was his home, or at least a replica of it. BUT STILL, THIS IS WHERE IT WAS! :)

Might as well make a T-shirt for me with a. this room on it or b. "Joseph Smith groupie" on it. My birthday is tomorrow. Just kidding, please don't do that I would literally never wear it. 

It's always awkward giving a tour here, and the door is jammed shut and they have to watch this little Asian try to open the door. haha 

OR when you open the door to tell his story and there are tons of people right outside. 

LET'S GET BACK TO BUSINESS. 

One time, I was taking a mother and her two young sons on tour. I told them the story, and he touched his heart, and just looked out. He looked up at me and said "That... is really cool. That really did happen, I feel it"

A group of teenage boys cried in this room. They felt the Spirit "The Holy Ghost shall teach you all things:John 14:26." 

A mother felt the Spirit in the midst of chaos during Pageant.

Missionaries about to return home recited the First Vision to their families in this room, and I am certain everyone in that room felt the Spirit.

I feel it, too. Every time. 

I know what Joseph Smith said happen, HAPPENED. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us so much, that they came to Joseph Smith to restore the Church of Jesus Christ, NEVER to be taken away again. 

If you don't know, I invite you to lean on my testimony THAT I KNOW until you receive a witness for yourself that it is true. I KNOW it is true. 

Just as when the body feels pain, it knows it must heal, when the soul feels guilt, it knows it must repent. 

"The Greek word of which this is the translation denotes a change of mind, a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world. Since we are born into conditions of mortality, repentance comes to mean a turning of the heart and will to God, and a renunciation of sin to which we are naturally inclined. Without this there can be no progress in the things of the soul’s salvation, for all accountable persons are stained by sin and must be cleansed in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. Repentance is not optional for salvation; it is a commandment of God" // The Bible Dictionary 

Listen to this. This is Alma the Younger. He had done one of the worst things; he had helped kill other people's progression to their Savior. He had assisted in attempting to destroy the church of Christ.

As you can see, this was no bueno and he was rebuked by and angel and CHANGED. 

He said to his son "And now, for three days and three nights I was racked with the pains of a damned soul. 

... I cried within my heart; O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness. 

.. And now behold when I thought this, I could remember my sins no more; yea I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. 

And oh what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold." ALMA36:16-20

(sidenotethescripturesaresodelicious)

Hey now (HEY NOOOW), we won't necessarily be rebuked by an angel, but with the light of Christ embedded in each of us, we can know when we must repent. Don't procrastinate. You, too, can feel this joy. I promise. 

"And I also thank my God, yea, my great God, that he hath granted unto us that we might repent of these things, ... and taken away the guilt from our hearts, through the merits of His Son." ALMA24:10

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." JOHN3:16

Close your eyes and listen to this :) 

We can all return to live with our Heavenly Father. :)

YOU CAN DO IT!!!! :) 

OLD ME

NEW ME

OLD ME 

NEW ME

OLD ME

   

NEW ME

OLD ME

 NEW ME

OLD ME 

               

   NEW ME 

WHAT. That is right. Your eyes do not deceive you. I hope to be better tomorrow than I am today. Because of Jesus Christ, I can do that. I don't care who you are, you can change right. now. 

RIGHT NOW. 

"Choose you THIS DAY whom you will serve." Joshua 24:15

You can change. You can follow Jesus Christ better than you do right now. He loves you. He knows your name. I know that. I am so GRATEFUL for that. Because of Jesus Christ, we can change. 

"And as all have not Faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith." // Doctrine and Covenants 88:118