AMEN

Church Responds to HRC Petition

Oct 12 2010 — Salt Lake City
News Release
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following statement through a spokesman following the delivery of a petition by the Human Rights Campaign.
My name is Michael Otterson. I am here representing the leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to address the matter of the petition presented today by the Human Rights Campaign.
While we disagree with the Human Rights Campaign on many fundamentals, we also share some common ground. This past week we have all witnessed tragic deaths across the country as a result of bullying or intimidation of gay young men. We join our voice with others in unreserved condemnation of acts of cruelty or attempts to belittle or mock any group or individual that is different – whether those differences arise from race, religion, mental challenges, social status, sexual orientation or for any other reason. Such actions simply have no place in our society.
This Church has felt the bitter sting of persecution and marginalization early in our history, when we were too few in numbers to adequately protect ourselves and when society’s leaders often seemed disinclined to help. Our parents, young adults, teens and children should therefore, of all people, be especially sensitive to the vulnerable in society and be willing to speak out against bullying or intimidation whenever it occurs, including unkindness toward those who are attracted to others of the same sex. This is particularly so in our own Latter-day Saint congregations. Each Latter-day Saint family and individual should carefully consider whether their attitudes and actions toward others properly reflect Jesus Christ’s second great commandment - to love one another.
As a church, our doctrinal position is clear: any sexual activity outside of marriage is wrong, and we define marriage as between a man and a woman. However, that should never, ever be used as justification for unkindness. Jesus Christ, whom we follow, was clear in His condemnation of sexual immorality, but never cruel. His interest was always to lift the individual, never to tear down.
Further, while the Church is strongly on the record as opposing same-sex marriage, it has openly supported other rights for gays and lesbians such as protections in housing or employment.
The Church’s doctrine is based on love. We believe that our purpose in life is to learn, grow and develop, and that God’s unreserved love enables each of us to reach our potential. None of us is limited by our feelings or inclinations. Ultimately, we are free to act for ourselves.
The Church recognizes that those of its members who are attracted to others of the same sex experience deep emotional, social and physical feelings. The Church distinguishes between feelings or inclinations on the one hand and behavior on the other. It’s not a sin to have feelings, only in yielding to temptation.
There is no question that this is difficult, but Church leaders and members are available to help lift, support and encourage fellow members who wish to follow Church doctrine. Their struggle is our struggle. Those in the Church who are attracted to someone of the same sex but stay faithful to the Church’s teachings can be happy during this life and perform meaningful service in the Church. They can enjoy full fellowship with other Church members, including attending and serving in temples, and ultimately receive all the blessings afforded to those who live the commandments of God.
Obviously, some will disagree with us. We hope that any disagreement will be based on a full understanding of our position and not on distortion or selective interpretation. The Church will continue to speak out to ensure its position is accurately understood.
God’s universal fatherhood and love charges each of us with an innate and reverent acknowledgement of our shared human dignity. We are to love one another. We are to treat each other with respect as brothers and sisters and fellow children of God, no matter how much we may differ from one another.
We hope and firmly believe that within this community, and in others, kindness, persuasion and goodwill can prevail.

Hilarious

Came across this blog.  I think its hilarious and dead on for all you (and me) Mormon wife/mommy bloggers out there!
seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com

Summertime and the Living WAS Easy!

I have been a horrible blogger lately!  Oh well, I'll never be able to keep up with everything!  Steven and I had an awesome summer.  We worked and worked and worked, but it wasn't selling alarms!  This was our first summer together that Steven didn't do alarm sells and we loved every minute of it.  Yes, we missed out on seeing really good friends and living in a new place again, but it was so nice to stay home! 


We didn't go on our big Mexico vacation because of all of the violence, etc.  Instead, we stayed in awesome AZ and visited quite a few lakes in the process.  We spent almost a week at Apache Lake and had a blast.  Unfortunately, the camera didn't make it out alive.  It accidentally ended up in the cooler and lets just say water + our Sony touch screen camera don't mix well.  So, needless to say I don't have any pictures from that trip!  Here are some other lake pics including my work "lake day".  Yes, my job IS that awesome.  

  I LOVE THIS GUY!

My first time trying wake-surfing and I loooved it!

Steven's bro Wes.  He thinks he's all that and a bag of chips on the wakeboard!  He's really not he's just better and stronger than the rest of us... ;-)

We bought this new tube at good ol' Costco and it is AWESOME. It launches everyone so high.  (All of those pictures are on the old camera; bummer!)

These two are FINALLY married!  Congrats to Jacy and McKay! We love you!

I fell in love with DVR this summer!  Isn't it the greatest thing ever?  I finally relented and let Steven use his awesome discount at Best Buy to buy a new TV and he quickly got cable hooked up. It has been worth every penny. I love snuggling up and watching movies in bed!  Speaking of bed we also took the plunge and finally bought a new one!!  A new mattress, headboard, and footboard.  After one long night of getting hardly any sleep I nicely told Steven that I was not going to bed again until we had a new one. We had been sleeping on Steven's old bed which was a FULL!!  It was super hard and way too small.  We now have a not too hard, but not too soft QUEEN mattress.  Yes, it was worth every penny!

So, now that we have no money left (we also bought a new car!) we get to spend it ALL on school and gas to get to school.  Joy.

School.

Here's my guy after his first day of his LAST semester!  (of undergrad that is.)  He wasn't very thrilled about me taking a picture, but after I backed him into the corner he didn't really have a choice.

He is thrilled to be almost done and can't wait to finally have a degree he can do something with!  I'm so proud of him eventhough he beat me by a semester!  May, here I come!  Can't wait!

Wishing...

I'm wishing that I had some MOTIVATION.

I can't seem to find any.

I've had the 2 inch study book for the GRE for 2 months now.

Do you think I've cracked it open?

NO.

I only need 20 hours of hospital PT experience.

Do you think I've made a single phone call in order to get those 20 measly hours?

NO.

I made a bet with the silly boy at work that thinks he can loose weight by drinking red gatorade for breakfast & eating Panda Express for dinner that I'd loose more weight than him by Aug. 1st.

Do you think I've been to the gym in the past week?

NO.

Do you think I resisted the $20 Costco mammoth Father's Day Chocolate Cake on Sunday?

NO.

Do you think I resisted a piece on Monday?

NO.

Do you think I put the rest of it down the disposal today?

YES.

I guess thats a start, but I need a whole lot more motivation than what I got listening to that amazing cake being destroyed.

I've made a list of everything I need to get done this summer so I could cross things off as I've gotten them done.

I lost that.

I guess I've caught that summer bug that makes you think life should be lived on Easy Street.

I only have 2 months of summer left...

Help, PLEASE!

LOVE HER!

Caitlin graduated!  We are super excited for her, but not excited for her to leave...  She's decided to go up to Thatcher for school.  She'll have a blast there, but we will definitely miss her here!  Here are a few of my favorites from her senior pic session!

Congrats Caitlin!!

Lets go SUNS!

We were lucky enough to go to the first Suns vs. Spurs playoff game on Monday.  I HATE the Spurs!! I'm so so glad we beat them that night!  And, Wednesday night!  And, Friday night! Woohoo 3-0!  Hopefully we sweep 'em.

We had a blast Monday night.  Thanks Dad!

Tip off. Go Amar'e!

These were the 'Golden Grannys'.  Seriously hilarious dancing.

The arena was PACKED with ORANGE!

ehhh the hair looks a little dowdy...!  Must be from all that cheering.

SUNS WIN!

P. S. Suns just keep focusing on winning.  We don't care about your stupid political perspective that most of you know nothing about anyways.  Keep the 'Los Suns' jerseys at home. 

Two Years Down, Forever to Go!

Its hard to believe that it has been two years since this cRaZy, LOVE filled day!

I'm so happy I found such an amazing person who is PERFECT for me!

I'm so grateful that with the blessings of the temple, Steven and I have the opportunity to be together forever.  After two short years, forever still sounds pretty dang good!

This year for our anniversary we stayed in a resort up in Carefree.  We spent the day on Saturday shopping around in Scottsdale and ate dinner at PF Changs!  The resort was beautiful and were able to have the hot tub, pool, and fireplace all to ourselves later that night. 

 

We had an awesome relaxing weekend that was REALLY needed.  Thanks Steven, for the best 2 years ever!

Bright Lights. Big Party.

Last Saturday NASCAR came to town so naturally Steven's parents came too!  They are HUGE NASCAR fans and invited us and my little bro Neil to join them.  We had a blast!

My little man while we were in the cab.  Steven talked the cab driver into taking us from our car waaay out in the dirt parking lot to the front gates for 5 bucks.  My feet thanked him.

Woo!  Theres nothing like the sound of 40+ stock cars going all at once!

Ann and Steve!

The boys insisted on having huge hot dogs.  I think they were each a foot long.  Sick.

The headphones saved my ears, and they helped me keep track of what the heck was going on the whole time.  They broadcasted the guys commentating about the race.  I kinda felt like I knew what was goin on!

And, this big guy was right in the middle of all of those thousands of people as we were walking out.

Welcome to Arizona NASCAR!

                       

And, I'd also like to mention that this was my second NASCAR race.  The first one I went to was while we were living in Indianapolis.  Arizona rednecks are NOTHING compared to midwest rednecks... 

Spring Cleaning

We live with my parents and my family is always coming and going every day. The one place where all of us end up several times a day seems to be the kitchen. We often have to eat at separate times which can lead to lots of little messes.  Everybody hates cleaning the kitchen; especially the boys. This is what I found Saturday morning after my dad got stuck cleaning it.

The pic doesn't quite do it justice, but he made sure the whole kitchen was roped off!  Sorry Dad, it didn't last long!

Shout Out to My Boy!

Steven and I have been on a big health kick lately, and it has really paid off for him! 20 pounds in the past month. HOLLA! He looks super good. And I'm super proud! I would include a picture, but he'd kill me if he knew I was writing about this, so it's a good thing for me that he never looks at this. I've always wanted us to be more healthy, and he has too; but, lets just say that our actions in the past have been much louder than our words. Sounds like a typical married couple right?? Everytime we started a new thing TOGETHER it always ended two weeks later. I must admit I would get frustrated at times because he didn't want to eat healthy and hit the gym every day. No one else's hubby is like that right?! Its hard to stay healthy when the person you eat almost every meal with doesn't want to eat egg whites and salad! But, his latest achievements have changed his mind somewhat. Last night we sat down to eat dinner and he prayed that, "we could continue to stay healthy and keep the weight off". Say whaaa? I just about fell off my chair and maybe said AMEN a little too loud. Maybe a miracle, maybe not. Regardless, I'm grateful for this big change and hope it sticks around for while! I need to catch up to him!

Gila Valley Temple

I'm super excited for the Gila Valley temple to be done. My mom showed me this video and I thought I would share it with anyone associated with Thatcher/Pima/Safford. Its so crazy that there will be a temple there!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln6Cx3x8cCU

Dear John comes out tomorrow! I'm so stinkin excited to drag Steven along with me to watch this movie. I hope its as good as the previews make it out to be!

Families Are Forever

This past week Steven and I were able to attend my cousin Jill's sealing to her hubby Tom and their little girl Annie. It was a great reminder of the wonderful blessings we are able to receive when we attend the temple. It was the first sealing besides my own that I have ever been to; it was nice to hear those words again and be reminded of my wedding day. Their little girl was so cute all dressed in white with her big green pacifier! I'm so grateful for the gospel and the knowledge of our loving Heavenly Father. Congrats Daleys! We are so happy for you, and are super excited to meet your next little one on the way!

I love this stuff...

Its been two weeks since I have had one of these. As much as I love it; I feel so much healthier without it. I just thought I'd share my little victory with anyone that cares!

Playoff runs two years in a row!? We're hoping they come up with another big win on Saturday!!!

GO CARDS!

Its January Already?!

Well its been way too long. The past few months have flown by; especially the holidays! We both made it through the fall semester with A's and B's and are glad its over. Here a few pictures from the past couple of months. I really REALLY need to be better about taking more pictures. That is one of my new years resolutions. Hold me to it!

Thanksgiving 2009 at the Conners!

Steven with his parents, sisters, and brother.

We met our nephew for the first time. Such a cutie!

Merry Christmas?? haha this is the ONLY Christmas-related picture I have.

So, Steven surprised me with my very own SNOWBOARD, bindings, boots, goggles, Burton pants and anything else I need for snowboarding and we went up to Sunrise right after Christmas. This is me in my lovely red coat during my lesson.

Unfortunately, I had a horrible cold and was having problems with my back. Going snowboarding just made both of these problems a lot worse. We woke up the next morning and decided to cut our trip short and just go home. I felt really bad about the seemingly wasted trip, but we really had fun anyways! Hopefully we can make it back up there again before the season ends.

Uh, yeah. I was falling on my butt too much to take any more pictures...!
That was the only one we got.

AND.....

Monday will be DAY 1 of P90x for me and Steven. I am SO SO excited to do this! Wish me luck because I've heard its super intense. Don't expect a "before" pic, but stay tuned for our rockin bods! ;) We hope!