New Family Photos

Sunday evening I drove to my parent’s house where my mom had announced “we’re taking a family picture – and that’s that!” We haven’t had one since I entered the MTC in the summer of 2006. So with my trusty Nikon and the help of my assistant we made it happen. www.mariezamora.net

2006 My Family Dropping Me Off At The MTC

Zamora Family 2009

I thought I’d post a side by side comparison to show you all how my family has changed in the 3 years since. Kinda cool! Gotta love it!

2006 My Family Dropping Me Off At The MTC

Zamora Family 2009

Quicky Post

I’m exhausted but I wanted to post because I’m just a little excited about it. Since joining Gold’s Gym and changing my diet I’ve lost 8lbs! I’m SO HAPPY!!!!!! My body is getting used to working out every day. I take it easy on my knee still, but even still I’ve lost almost 10lbs!

I’ll make a bigger post later about how I’ve changed my diet (another word for life style) to focus more on the Word of Wisdom and how even the small changes I’ve made are helping.

Anyway, time for bed! Goodnight All!

- Provo LDS Girl

Wedding Photos

I spent the day in Fruiteland, UT taking photos for my friend at her wedding. It was a really cool and interesting experience! I hadn’t done a non-LDS wedding before. This was done in the Baptist church. Their theme was “Klassy-Redneck Wedding” and her main focal point was camo. Her husband wore camo and her dress was camo. Interesting. It rained almost the whole time. It stopped shortly after the ceremony so we could run outside and take a few quick shots. They’re a fun couple. I’ve got to edit all the pictures now (over 400) and get them to her as soon as I can. YEAY!

Anti-Mormon Literature… Don’t Doubt!

From time to time I’ll come across Anti-Mormon literature. It happens. You shouldn’t be surprised. My first initial idea of the endowment session came from an anti-Mormon website trying to scare everyone with dark, scary sacrificial looking pictures. Not even close to what happens in the temple, by the way. I was actually just looking up photographs of the Salt Lake City temple, clicked on the image and it brought me to that page. So it’s not like I went out looking for it. I quickly called my mom and asked about it and she reassured me that everything was okay and that wasn’t what happens in the temple. I can now tell you, having been through the temple and participated in several endowment sessions that the endowment session is nothing like what was described on that website. PS: Please don’t go out looking for it either.

In the past I’ve heard of people who are ex-LDS who say that the endowment session was the hardest to grasp. I must admit for those who are not spiritually and mentally prepared, it could be hard to grasp. The endowment session has been actually changed within the last few years not only for time constraints but also for clarity and better understanding. There were and still are symbols and tokens taught with each promise or covenant to help you not only remember meaning but for understanding of its sacredness and the strict obedience of what they were to learn and covenant they had made. Sometimes this caused people to be frightened because they didn’t understand the point behind the symbol or token. In all honesty it was probably a scare tactic to help others understand. There are still covenants today that are meant not to be taken lightly. Just said and presented in a different way than the older endowment sessions. Does this change anything? No. Those who made those covenants are still held to the same standard as those who make them today.
In Exodus 40, Moses is taught the way of washing and anointing someone to do the work of God in his Holy House. Aaron was washed and anointed and clothed in holy garments. Today we are only washed and anointed symbolically but with the same intent as Aaron was. The temples and everything that happens inside the temple is VERY symbolic in nature. Everything we do in this church is symbolic. Right down to the sacrament and even baptism.

As I was glancing over the points this former LDS man had made I felt sorry for him.

His points against the church rested upon things like “Well the painting of the angel Moroni visiting Joseph in his bedroom one night didn’t have enough people in it. The church uses this picture and that means that they don’t believe their own history.”….

Here is another versions of the same topic by different painter done more reciently. Notice the difference in focal point.

Here is an image of Joseph’s bedroom. You can see the Smith home on the LDS Church History tours.

And my answer to that is “SO WHAT That it didn’t have enough people?!” (yes I actually said that out loud) As an artist myself, this irritated me a little. Just because the artist who painted the scene he was speaking of didn’t paint the right size of a room or decided that he’d leave Josephs’s several other siblings that were sleeping in the room at that time out of the picture, at his own discretion, and because like many paintings used in the church’s art files it just so happens to have been the ONLY VERSION of a painting of that scene, and the church used it for those who needed a visual aid, that means the whole doctrine of the Joseph and Moroni account is incorrect. If I was to rationalize every other painting and forget the purpose behind it I could say that every painting done in the early Renaissance period or even earlier of a religious scene with an overly tall figure is incorrect because no human is ever that tall. Along with the many paintings of the Christ child and Mary because Christ was always painted as a small man… Well Christ was a baby just like every other human. Yes, but the symbolism behind those are purely the doctrine of Christ being the Son of Men…. Which requires at that time deeper thought and exploration into the title.

Honestly, I understand that people may have been offended at one point and then they nit pick and try to find everything wrong with the information that we have. But honestly, until you know for yourself that the general doctrine in truth… that the basics all fit – Jesus is the son of God and died for us so that we could return to our Father in heaven. (which in itself is a very deep doctrine that I wont get into today).. until you can grasp that, every other small thing is going to look huge. I’ve had doubts – but I stopped having doubts when I decided that I was going to have faith in what I did know and ask all the questions in the next life. There are things we don’t know now and probably wont know until the next life. Until then it’s useless to pick at things that we can’t grasp.

Prov. 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

I know this gospel is true! I wouldn’t want to be in any other religion that did not have the organization the Lord Jesus Christ described and was set up during the beginning of time. Not only founded on prophets, apostles, evangelicals, priests, teachers, but also with priesthood authority and power, temples, ordinances, and covenants! This religion has it! I am thankful to have a gospel on the earth where those truths are taught and practiced. I know the Book of Mormon is true because it testifies of my savior Jesus Christ and is consistent with the doctrine in the Bible. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet because of the Book of Mormon and my belief in it. I know Thomas S. Monson is a prophet today because he has never said anything contrary to what my Heavenly Father has outlined. All the things I’ve been told in the Book of Mormon lead me to be a better person. Those who do not follow the principles, the basic life line of the gospel are bound to not be following those things that will lead you to God. I have never once heard a doctrine I didn’t believe in the statement:

Doctrine & Covenants 4:5-7
“And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work. Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.
Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen.”

If I remember to do and follow these words I will be a better person. And by asking God I will know for myself if it is what he really wants me to do.

“If the Church allowed critics and opponents to choose the ground on which its battles are fought, it would risk being distracted from the focus and mission it has pursued successfully for nearly 180 years. Instead, the Church itself will determine its own course as it continues to preach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.”
The Publicity Dilemma published on LDS.org in March 2009.

A fantastic talk for you to read is “How To Find Safety and Peace” given by Elder M. Russell Ballard in the November 1997 New Era Magazine. There is also the “Questions & Answers” from the July 2007 New Era which is a good read.

Understanding Textual Changes in the Book of Mormon
By George Horton published in the 1983 December Ensign

Being Consecrated Vessels

I was thinking this weekend more on the topic of “callings and elections” (see previous post).

When I first started studying it in January of this year I wondered how one would even begin to set themselves apart to start doing that sort of work. Would they pray and reverently address their desire to become consecrated to the Lord’s work therefore making their own form of covenant? Well in a sense, yes. One would have to be cleansed from their sins, anointed for God’s work, and sanctified or in other words, made holy to the Lord.

“Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.” Doctrine & Covenants 88:68

Then one would be prepared to make further covenants and be endowed with power to begin the task of eventually having their calling and election made sure. And so long as they were true and faithful to the covenants they make and follow the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ honestly, they will eventually receive their exaltation…

For those of you who have been through the temple and have received your endowment, I hope you’re having sparks of inspiration at this point.

All of us who have received their washing and anointing (see Exodus 40) along with making covenants in the endowment have already promised they will have their “Callings and Elections Made Sure”… WHAT?!!?? YES! If you don’t remember that line in the endowment session being said I recommend you go back and listen closely while doing initiatories and while in the endowment sessions.

Ask Yourselves:
What are you being set apart for in the initiatory?
What are you covenanting to do in the endowment session?

A covenant is a two-way promise between God and us. He initiates the covenant, sets its terms, promises to bless us (see D&C 82:10; D&C 98:3; D&C 130:20–21), and administers the covenant through His appointed priesthood. We promise to keep the covenant. As we do, the blessings we receive—and the effort we expend—not only further the Lord’s work, but also help us become more like our Father in Heaven.

So what does this mean about the doctrine of callings and elections? It means it’s obtainable, we all can do it, and we all SHOULD be doing it! You have made the covenants for this already. No one forced you to. There was no one holding a gun to your head. You are told of the sacredness and importance of these covenants before you even begin the ordinance. They even have a moment where they stop and ask all those who are not willing to make the covenants of their own free will and choice may raise their hands and leave the room. I’ve heard people say they’ve stayed because of fear, our of judgment from family, “I wouldn’t be able to go on a mission if I didn’t make them.” I say phoowey! Where is your testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ? What is your purpose in this life? Are we not to eventually return to our father in heaven and eventually become as he is? Gods of our own worlds? Well that’s what the doctrine of callings and elections are.

Moses 1:39
“For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man”

“Holy Temples, Sacred Covenants“
by Silvia H. Allred First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency
Published in the November 2008 Liahona Magazine

“Honorably Hold a Name and Standing“
By Elder David A. Bednar Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Published in the May 2009 Liahona Magazine

“The Power of Covenants“
By Elder D. Todd Christofferson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Published in the May 2009 Ensign Magazine

“First Presidency Message
Feasting upon the Scriptures“
By President Gordon B. Hinckley
Second Counselor in the First Presidency (at the time of publication)
Published in the December 1985 Ensign Magazine

“Visiting Teaching Message:
Heirs According to the Covenant“
Published in the September 1996 Liahona Magazine

“Visiting Teaching Message:
Building Up Zion by Making Covenants and Receiving Ordinances“
Published in the May 1998 Liahona Magazine

Gold’s Gym

So I signed up for Gold’s Gym today. I’m paying $25 a month for 2 years. Not bad. Hailey wants to go every day. I told her from the beginning I need someone to actually kick me in the butt to do this. I really need to. Since high school I’ve gained a total of 60 lbs! SICK!!! A majority of it is from my mission, but still! EEWWW!!!

I’m just so sick of being heavy. This is the biggest I’ve EVER been in my whole life. Thankfully I still look cute, but I’m just chubby cute… And this time, I’m going to pace myself. I’m not going to freak out if I’m not losing enough. I actually went and spoke with my doctor before this. When I was in high school I had an eating disorder. I was number obsessed. I remember the day I fell in love with the falling numbers, the day I stopped eating because I noticed the less I ate the more I lost… I also remember the day I was in my biology class and ran my fingers through my hair and had a big chunk of hair fall out. That’s when I stopped. I remember the day my hair grew back in chunks, all poking out and weird, I looked like a fuzz ball. For anyone who knows me I’m extremely vain when it comes to my hair. Believe me, I’m working on it. I remember when my arms and body got REALLY hairy. Thankfully that’s gone away. But anyone who’s recovered from any kind of eating disorder knows what I’m talking about.
Anyway, I asked my doctor about my weight gain and how to get it off and he said it wasn’t at all uncommon for people with eating disorders to have the extremes. Mine was eating out of fear – I’m really good at that one. Sometimes I wont even be hungry and almost to the point of being sick but I’ll still have to finish what food I have left.
He said what I’d done to my body at that period in my life wasn’t helpful. I lost muscle, not fat. So I need to find a personal trainer, gain as much muscle as I can, and put more protein into my diet. I’ve changed my diet already and things are going a lot better. I feel less tired every day. Well not when I’ve been at my desk for 8 hours in a dark room watching a computer screen. That sucks. But, when I’ve been out and about I feel a lot better. Now here comes the real test.

My friend Hailey has agreed to be my personal trainer. She has lost 30+ lbs since the beginning of this year. I’m so happy for her. Basically what she did was went to the gym every day. So my first day at the gym will be tomorrow at 5am. We’re going to work out for an hour and then at 6am they’re going to do an assessment on the two of us (she’s been a member there but never had her’s done)… So here goes everything!