Crater Lake

The other day all the Sister missionaries in our area went to Crater Lake. Crater Lake is the clearest lake in the world and the second deepest. It was formed long long ago by an enormous eruption which resulted in a gigantic crater. In the millions of years since it has filled with rainwater and snow melt. And that is it. There are no streams or anything contributing to the lake.

 This is a picture of what it might look like in the summer

This is what it looked like while we were there

 If you look very closely you will see the edge of the lake with some trees. 

It was an absolute blizzard. There were ice crystals pelting our faces and we could only see a little ways in any direction. It was freezing cold and everything was wet. Still, we were having the time of our lives. It was so much fun. 

In the two hours we spent stomping around in snowshoes we came up with some pretty great analogies. What do you think?

1. As we were standing there by the edge of the cliff we couldn't help but wish the clouds would lift just enough for us to see the lake. We had heard so much about the brilliant blue that Crater Lake was known for. The ranger, hearing us, mentioned that even if the clouds did lift out of the Caldera we still wouldn't see that blue. The reason the water is so brilliant is because of the sky. Without the direct sunlight the lake is a sort of grey color. Here is where the connection was drawn. There are many things we can do in life in order to get a better view of who we are and where we are going. But by far the BEST way is to apply the light that comes from our Savior! There is no substitute for it. No matter how much we think we can see on our own, that can't even compare to the brilliancy that is available through the Son of God.

2.One thing our tour guide made very clear to us is the value of winter. The whole time we were being thrown around by the wind and making sure we could still feel our toes.  Apparently they are meant to get an average of 600 inches of snow every winter! that is 44 feet of snow. In order to survive almost all of the animals have to either get out of hibernate underground for 7 months of the year. So, is winter a bad thing? The final conclusion was no. Winter is actually just what keeps Crater Lake so beautiful. Most of the water that contributes to the lake is from snow. There was even this one bird that depends on the cold weather to 'refrigerate' it's food over the winter. The long cold winters are exactly what the park needs every year. Here is the analogy part. Every single person has trials. Everyone has times in their lives when they feel abandoned or not good enough. Not to say those times are good, or enjoyable, but they are necessary. Without the bad, how could we possibly enjoy the good? 

3. Also, related to the need for winter is the fact that only a few species of plants can survive in such an extreme environment. The trees were specially designed to fold under the pressure of the snow! (Not a coincidence) Not even kidding, we actually watched as the younger trees bent in half! Here is a poem given by President Thomas S. Monson in the October 2013 General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (to read the whole talk click here) This just illistrates 

Good timber does not grow with ease, 

The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees. 

The further the sky, the greater the length. 

The more the storm, the more the strength.

By sun and cold, by rain and snow, 

In trees and men good timbers grow. 

Because of our trials we are able to grow into the strong sons and daughters of God we have the potential of becoming.

Long story short, nature is beautiful and it wouldn't be that way if not for the good combined with the bad. No matter what we go through I know that our Father in Heaven is completely aware of us and suffers with us. Learn more about our Savior and how we can come closer to Him click here

Lesson for the week: We are never alone!

One lesson that has stuck out to me this week especially is the love our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ has for us. In particular there was one talk that stood out to me. This is just a part of that talk called, "The Atonement Covers All Pain" given by Kent F. Richards in April 2011:

Late one night lying in a hospital bed, this time as a patient and not as a physician, I read those verses over and over again. I pondered: “How is it done? For whom? What is required to qualify? Is it like forgiveness of sin? Do we have to earn His love and help?” As I pondered, I came to understand that during His mortal life Christ chose to experience pains and afflictions in order to understand us. Perhaps we also need to experience the depths of mortality in order to understand Him and our eternal purposes.

President Henry B. Eyring taught: “It will comfort us when we must wait in distress for the Savior’s promised relief that He knows, from experience, how to heal and help us. … And faith in that power will give us patience as we pray and work and wait for help. He could have known how to succor us simply by revelation, but He chose to learn by His own personal experience.”

I felt the encircling arms of His love that night. Tears watered my pillow in gratitude. Later, as I was reading in Matthew about Christ’s mortal ministry, I made another discovery: “When the even was come, they brought unto him many … and he … healed all that were sick.” He healed all that came to Him. None were turned away.

As Elder Dallin H. Oaks has taught: “Healing blessings come in many ways, each suited to our individual needs, as known to Him who loves us best. Sometimes a ‘healing’ cures our illness or lifts our burden. But sometimes we are ‘healed’ by being given strength or understanding or patience to bear the burdens placed upon us.” All that will come may be “clasped in the arms of Jesus.” All souls can be healed by His power. All pain can be soothed. In Him, we can “find rest unto [our] souls.”Our mortal circumstances may not immediately change, but our pain, worry, suffering, and fear can be swallowed up in His peace and healing balm.

I know that the Savior lives and I know that He loves every single one of us! If you have any questions or comments please let me know. I would love to talk more about who we are as children of our Heavenly Father.

Mission statement (the purpose of the blog)

There are a lot of misconceptions out there of what Mormons believe. (Believe me, I have heard some pretty crazy ones.) Yes, we are Christian. No, we don't have horns. That is one of my goals with this blog, to clear up some of the funny ideas out there and to (hopefully) spread some of the happiness I have found as a firm believer in my Savior, Jesus Christ. Although I plan to share some of my experiences and answers to questions, here is a good way to get started:

MORMON.ORG

This is a website where you can ask any questions you may have about Mormons, what we do and why we do it. Enjoy! 

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints young men are under a priesthood obligation to serve for two years as a missionary. Although young women don't share that responsibility, they are still given the option to serve, not two years, but 18 months. 

I never planned on going on a mission. All growing up I watched as young men and women around me prepared for missions, received their calls and left. A year or two later they would come back with all these amazing stories of people they met and places they had seen. Through all of this I thought: 'Wow, their mission did a lot of good for them.' Or even, 'Hmm, that sounds like a fun adventure.' I can't think of a single time when I actually thought that I, myself would go on a mission. 

Several years later found me going to my first year of college where I met some of the best friends I have ever had. Two of them in particular had their sights set on a mission. Their faith and confidence and eagerness to serve sparked something in me. I had never been opposed to the idea of serving a mission, I had just never thought that I would. Before I knew it, things had fallen into place and first chance I got, I submitted my application to serve. Three weeks later that big white envelope came in the mail addressed to Sister Durfey. The way the application works is when we submit our papers we are saying, in a sense, that we will go wherever the Lord will send us. That could be anywhere in the world! From Slovakia to Washington DC, Mandarin Chinese speaking.

The feeling that came as I read my call letter was one I will never forget. I was really hoping for a call to some foreign country maybe Spain (where my Dad served) or maybe South Africa so I could be one of those people with the cool stories. Going into this I was both excited yet terrified. With all of these emotions in play (as well as so many more I can't put into words) I read my call out loud. 

Sister Durfey. . . you are called to serve in the Oregon Eugene mission.

I expected to be disappointed. I was thinking more along the lines of a 20 hour flight not two hours! Oregon was the last place I expected to go. Despite all this I felt the most overwhelming feeling of peace that I have ever felt before. I know without a doubt that this is the mission for me. 

I know this church is true and that President Thomas S. Monson is called of God to lead the church of Jesus Christ here in the latter days. I am currently serving in the best mission in the church because it is my mission. I have confidence the message we take to the world and I know I am where I need to be.