The Elevated

Right now, I am writing. I should really be sleeping. Sometimes adventure equals being sleep deprived. That's okay. Today I am writing about something I haven't felt for a long long time. I'm not sure how I identified it or even what to call it. But it has to do with people. Missing people, specifically. I've only experienced this type of emptiness a few times in my life. Although many people experience the pain of missing someone or something, I believe that a small group of specific people really know this feeling. These people are known as Williamsburgers, Burgers that William made. A group of really odd people who laugh at the story of Preston Wesley and get emotional when they see llamas and want to hug a random stranger after hearing the word "walls". These people get nostalgia by eating a Clif Bar and like studying and have meaningful relationships with their mentors and peers, often times people they've never met in person before. These people are scholars of the most worthy education. And I miss them. This weekend, I had the spectacular opportunity to meet and spend a day with two of my best friends, these friends being Burgers. And man do these people know how to adventure. These people are elevated. Twice a year, Williamsburg Learning hosts a camp called Elevation, and it literally does elevate you. There's a reason why Burgers are my people. They elevate with me. In 22 days, Elevation will begin elevating. Oh and I cannot wait. My anticipation is so great that I shed a tear everytime I think about it. I cannot wait to meet my pod, to stay up until 1 am talking with my pod sisters in a freezing cold tent, eating the disgusting elevation oatmeal, rock climb and repel and do walls and just LIVE in the most BEAUTIFUL place with the most SPECTACULAR PEOPLE.

Some of you who don't know Burgers or Elevation or USH Study Guides might be wondering, why does it matter? They're just people. Just experiences. Well let me tell you.

When you love someone so much that you will stay up until 1 am to talk to them over a computer, you're going to miss them. When you love someone so much that when you have the opportunity to sacrifice money and time and energy just to see them for a few hours, you're going to do it. When you take time out of your already busy schedule just to call these people, you're going to love them. And when you finally meet them and see them in person and hug them and joke with them and laugh with them, you're going to live with them. And when you have to leave, you're going to leave part of yourself with them. And they're going to leave part of them with you. And you hold onto that love until you can finally see them again and give more to receive more.

You want to go conquer the world with these people because you know that they know of their potential and you also know that they know that you know of YOUR potential and that you will support each other in your dreams. But alas. All you can do is send a text telling them of what goal you just achieved or what opportunity came your way, and at best, call them. That hurts.

The perfect gift would be an infinite amount of time in the mountains with these people. Why, oh why can't it be so? Fate is cruel.

Gah. The Elevated are to be treasured. Love your elevators. Till 22 days, Burgers.

Savannah

Judgement (inspired by Flannery O'Connor's Revelation)

Judgement is an interesting thing. It's making assumptions based on physical appearance. It does not take into account experiences, childhood, family situations, or personality. The Godhead are the ultimate judges. In the final days, we will be judged according to our inward desires, thoughts, and outward actions, not physical appearance or social status. And, honestly, it doesn't matter how well we present our false selves. People can see through fake personalities. Lesson learned?

Be your best, authentic self.

Fear Not!

I've been thinking about fear a lot. There are so many things to fear! But then I realized that fear is frankly stupid. Below is a raw and unedited conversation between and my dear friend Emily Kelly on our thoughts about fear, and a few other thoughts I've had since then.

Emily: Okay, so it was awesome because two nights ago, my mom and I and Celeste and her son Devin were talking, and Celeste and Devin are super spiritual! It was amazing! And Devin would get choked up and it was so awesome! So he was talking about fear. And he was talking about not having fear. And that was so cool! I'll have to tell you more about it when I get home. Then we started talking about the talk by Elder Holland called Tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among You. And he talked about how Moses had an incredible spiritual experience, and then the devil came and just tried so hard to make him doubt what he had JUST heard. Sly. So anyways, Elder Holland was saying that after we have spiritual experiences we can get attacked. So it was just so interesting. It's scary, but when and after you do something cool, or experience something amazing, the adversary (and it's not the adversary every time I think) but he knows that something will really help us, and he tries to freak us out into not going it! Yes fear can be a good thing, but it can be mean! What's the point of being afraid of something that could happen that hasn't even happened? We don't know what's going to happen! So why choose fear and feel miserable, if the outcome could be good! The outcome could be as good as could be bad, so why should we choose to feel afraid more than confident? And of course it's not like we're afraid all of the time, but there definitely are times. There is a saying that my dad told me years ago, it goes like this. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it". 

Heavenly Father always has our back, and we can trust him perfectly because we know he will do the best for us. When we follow him, we couldn't have made a better choice. Everything is worth it. Every hard, good thing is worth it. Ohhh but it can be hard to do hard things!

2nd Nephi 2:27. Choosing the harder right (like President Thomas S. Monson's talk was about) is always worth it. The outcome is sooooo much better! Seriously!!!! But choosing the easier wrong, is never worth it in the end. It's just not true happiness. There's happiness and there's joy. The easier wrong leads to captivity. What we think is liberty on Earth, is captivity in reality. And what we sometimes think is captivity on Earth (The Commandments, living the Gospel, Following Jesus Christ is truly liberty. Isn't that so cool??? So yes, it is always, always worth it. 

Savannah: Ahh! How did you know I was struggling so much with that?! What you said about spiritual experiences and Moses and being attacked after spiritual experiences. Love that. Have I ever told you about the pendulum of pain? Basically right after you're happy, you're going to be sad. You can't have happiness without sadness, nor sadness without happiness! And you can't grow spiritually unless you have opposition! I absolutely adore what you said about fear. There is no need to fear with God. When God tells us not to fear, it's a commandment. Ahhhhhh!! So good. There is no need to fear opposition. Romans 8:31 says "if God be for us, who can be against us?". 

That was so powerful. About following Heavenly Father and that being the correct choice. Not only is that the best choice, it's the only choice! Honestly. Following Satan and his path ends. It always does. But God is eternal! Forever and ever. In this instance, we can look at the differences between "eternal" and "immortal". Immortal is never dying, always existing. However, eternal is never dying, always living, in joy with God. The choice to follow God is not an eternal choice, it is an immortal choice of awesomeness. 

SPIRITUAL TRUTH BOMB. Holy heck. Love love love love love. If choosing the right was always easy, we would always do it! It's so simple yet so profound. In choosing the right, we choose to manifest our belief and love for God. Romans 1:16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation... So so so good. Choosing the right brings salvation. That's why the atonement is so good. So necessary in every day life. Undeniably God is good. In Romans 3:23-24 (I'm studying in Romans right now if you can't tell) it says:

23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.

Choosing the right is so hard. Especially if we put filters on our agency. Sometimes I think Satan controls some of our agency and we don't even know it. But! That's why we have the atonement. I KNOW the atonement shakes us. God is good. 

(Yes we sent that many words back and forth to each other. It's a very interesting topic). 

I've had a couple of epiphanies on fear since yesterday. One of them is this. Fear is a path back to God. All bad things (mistakes, hardships, sins) should lead us to our knees in prayer to our Heavenly Father. Sometimes we need our fear to guide us to Heavenly Father and rely on his help to conquer our fear and to live life despite of it. 

Romans 8:28 was another epiphany. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. If we love God, we have no need to fear, for all good things will work together for our good. 

In the hymn As Zion's Youth in Latter Days, the third verse says "thru test and trial we'll have our fears

But we will not despair. 

We're here to serve a righteous cause;

Truth gives us strength to dare.

We'll love, and learn, and overcome;

We'll sing a joyful song, 

As Zion's youth in latter days,

Triumphant, pure, and strong".

Fear makes us strong! And when we conquer it, we are triumphant. 

To end my post, I want you to read these scriptures. Romans 8: 35, 37-39.

35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Savannah

Not All Good Things

Sadness is a cool thing. I'm really glad I'm happy enough to be sad. Yesterday's sadness helped me to remember this. (The following quote is taken directly from my journal).

January 22nd, 2017

You have to remember, Savannah, not everything good in life is for you. Better things are in store. Trust God and you'll be happy.

Trust God.

The Strenuous Life by Theodore Roosevelt: My Own Thoughts

The Strenuous Life by Theodore Roosevelt was given by Teddy on his first campaign trail. Teddy was very much known as a boisterous, adventurous, jolly, strong leader and person. Teddy grew up as a sickly boy with asthma and caught sicknesses easily. His father enrolled him in wrestling to build his immune system and defend himself from bullies. He learned to live the strenuous life, and wrote about it. You can find Teddy's speech here. I didn't read the entire speech as it was an assignment for school, but the theme is the same, and I wanted to present my thoughts on it. Here we go :).

Failing is hard, it takes a toll on your pride. You're embarrassed and for me, some of my motivation to accomplish my goal withers away. But never trying to succeed is even worse; in doing so, you are disrespecting the American Dream. The American Dream was born from the founding fathers living that dream, following their passions, fighting for their beliefs, living the life they want. Not trying to succeed is disrespecting that dream and sacrifice.

Success takes effort. In everything. Relationships, education, physical health and strength, spiritual health, and career success. Success will require effort. Sacrifice. And I think that's what people are scared of. Wasted effort. But, success is worth it.

Build on the foundation those before you have built, use the opportunities they have provided you. Otherwise you are wasting their effort and proving you do not deserve it. Every generation should get better.

A life of ease is not satisfactory! Never has been, never will be. Humans are made to thrive. Ya don't thrive by sitting around watching TV all day. Work. Life the strenuous life.

Happiness comes from pursuing happiness. pursuing the ways of the Lord brings happiness. The satisfaction is not in the end of the run, but in running well. Humans naturally go right on to the next thing-as soon as one project is finished, we jump to the next. In pursuing the ways of the Lord, we find peace as we endure to the end.

High mindedness brings happiness; education, adventure, and praise worthy dreams and goals will attract other high minded people and they will support you.

"Dare mighty things. Win glorious triumphs, checkered by failure".

Doing things in spite of the pain shows character.

Each generation has its own duties. I want to warn those who shrink from it. We cannot avoid meeting great issues. Our generation is fit to solve them, so do it.

If we really are a great people (talking about the American population), we must strive to play a roll in the world.

We will not always solve problems right, but we cannot abandon them to solve themselves  because then they will be solved in a way we don't like.

The over civilized man is not a true American; Americans are wild at heart. Wild dreams. Wild goals. Wild expectations. Their lives should lead to riveting college essays.

Having too rigid of a government, society, and people saps a nation's strength. If we all learn from other countries, we can create an ideal environment for our people.

Ideals are just as important as working hard. If you're working hard, but don't know what your ideals are, what's the point?

"Our ancestors leave echoes of glory, but they also leave a legacy of duty".

Be glad for the opportunity to work and be successful! It may not seem like it, but it's a blessing.

"With self respect, let us face challenges with proper seriousness, courage and high resolve, highest order of integrity and ability. We must hold a rigid accountability to ourselves and others".

Weak people in character do not deserve the freedom and opportunity America offers.

Just because Americans have been given freedoms and privileges does not mean we can abuse them and avoid the strenuous life.

Based on my thoughts, I would love to hear your own :). Keep it rad.

Savannah

P.S. I have at least 4 drafts on this blog. Hehe. You can expect more posts coming soon.

Lessons from History

Mr. Brown, the greatest U.S. History mentor to ever walk the Earth, is having to stop teaching USH and do other things with Williamsburg Academy. So last Wednesday, we had our final discussion with Mr. Brown. One of the questions he asked us was this. What have you learned through History? The discussion that commenced was one of the moving and motivational ones I've participated in. Cramming study guide information into my brain and trying to connect it all in preparation for my oral final, I've come across my thoughts on the lessons of history. So I thought I would share with you.

In the Founding Era (from the discovery of America to Jackson's presidency, approximately), we can learn that all men are created equal. This may seem obvious to us, but then it wasn't. The idea was revolutionary. All men, created equal? Every single man and woman is entitled to the same rights and privileges we partake in every day living in the United States? That's right. Every man. Black and White, Male and Female, Democrat and Republican. We all deserve peace and freedom.
Freedom requires order and in order to keep order, some freedoms must be taken away. At the beginning of America, we had total freedom. No limits. Creating the Constitution and the amendments, implementing laws. We took away certain freedoms to keep order. Anarchy is not our tune. Freedom and Democracy are.

From the Antebellum Era (Antebellum means before war, so from Jackson's Presidency to the 1850's in America's case), we can learn these lessons. Be humble, compromise, and repeat trial and error until you have found truth. 
Don't hate, have empathy and see both sides of the argument. When Jackson removed the Indians, he lacked empathy and compassion. The trail of tears is, in my opinion, one of the most tragic incidents in American History. Why? Mostly because there was a lack of empathy.
Don't start unnecessary wars. War should be plan W, not plan A. When James Knox Polk was pursuing Manifest Destiny, he started the Mexican American war (which would take a while to go into detail, so do some research for me) to acquire more land and control most of the North American Continent. Even though we won a plethora of territory and pursued Manifest Destiny to the fullest, was that war really necessary? There's your moral question of the day. Keep peace :).
There is a thin line between compromising and avoiding problems entirely. It is human nature to skirt around problems and occasionally prod them with a stick. However, we need to face problems head on, and compromise where we need to. Some problems will never be entirely solved. But we need to compromise. But never, EVER EVER EVER, completely avoid problems. Be brave.

Lessons from the Civil War Era (pretty self-explanatory).
Progress hurts. In order to abolish slavery and progress as Americans and as a nation, we had to go to war. John Brown foretold this when he was executed for his actions as an abolitionist. Brother against Brother. Father against Son. That hurt. Yet look where we are now. Slavery is abolished. America can finally start living up to its ideal of all men are created equal. Progress hurts. Progress is worth it.
Truth is two competing extremes. The abolitionists of the Civil War Era were so passionate about their belief that slavery is an evil (and we can see that now. But not everyone could see that in 1861) that they killed. The created havoc. They lead uprisings. They terrorized Southerners for their belief that Slavery is okay. It isn't, but we have to respect. To keep slavery, to abolish. Two competing extremes. Truth is somewhere in there.
Listen to others. Going back to the abolitionists, we know that they were so bent on abolishing slavery that they turned off their humanity and abandoned their empathy. In heated problems such as this, take a step back. Try for one minute to possess empathy. To possess love. Listen to to others. Because chances are, you're not perfect either.

The Industrial Revolution (when factories start popping up in America, we enter an age of technology and innovation. We start to enter the modern age).
Wherever you are in life, you have to treat others with humanity. You cannot neglect others' humanity and feelings. You have to look outside yourself in progress, because if you are dehumanizing someone, is it true progress? The Robber Barons (big factory owners such as Andrew Carnegie) robbed people of good working conditions, safe working conditions, fair minimum wage, and initiated child labor. Though we made all these extremely radical and practical inventions such as the lightbulb, telephone, car, and airplane, we dehumanized others. We were not valuing human life. Don't make those mistakes.
Without moral guidance, "progress" can backtrack very quickly. If we are not being counseled by others, if we do not possess empathy, our "progress" will become meaningless. We forget ourselves and others. Know the right. Have empathy. We can learn from Abraham Lincoln on this. He included Southern Democrats in his cabinet. People who opposed him. Because of this, he was able to make the best decision possible for the Union.
Problems will always get solved, but if you don't take the initiative, they won't get solved in the way you like. When Theodore Roosevelt came into office, he immediately broke up the Trusts, using Trust Busts, set up regulations and safety standards. The Robber Barons didn't really like this. Even though they knew that Trusts were corrupt and wanted to change things, they didn't take the initiative.  So Theodore Roosevelt did it for them. Don't complain about things you're not willing to change. Be the change you wish to see in the World. Otherwise those things will get changed. But without your two cents, it won't get done how you would like. If everyone pitches in two cents, we can make this world a extremely better place.
Give people freedom and they will change the world. When America went to war with Spain to free Cuba from Spain's rule, one of the reasons is because they wanted to establish democracy there (there were obviously other motives, but that was one of them). And so they did. Cuba was given freedom and they were able to change their own world. Give people freedom. Give people a chance. Give people hope. And they'll change the world.

At the end of the discussion, Mr. Brown asked the question, what does it mean to be an American to you? And what I learned and what I became convicted in, what I took a stance on was this. To be an American is to live passionately. Pursue your own manifest destiny. Take a stand and don't be afraid to defend it. Live the life you desire.

Mr. Brown, thank you for teaching me History. Thank you for teaching me lessons I will never forget. Lessons that I can take and apply to the real world. Because that's what a phenomenal leader is. Thank you, Mr. Brown. I really appreciate it.

Savannah Lorcher

Empathy towards Christ

*Please note that the question at the end of the post is open to interpretation. This post is different from my other ones where I give my answer (I'm trying to get away from that), but I want you go ponder the answer for yourself.*

*Another note. Go look up pictures of this world. Some of my own can be found on my Instagram (savannahlorcher) or here. Christ is our King. Our triumphant Savior. Ponder these principles as you look at this pictures of our universe. It is humbling.*

Hey guys. Let's talk about this depiction of Christ  for a minute. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I often see this 

painting. A picture of Jesus Christ looking serene. Calm. Peaceful. Filled with the Holy Ghost. Rarely do we see a picture of Christ smiling. But I love it. From what I've learned through my personal studies and prayers, Christ is a joyful being. Because Christ was born, we can experience great joy. "Joy to the World! The Lord is come. Let Earth receive her King." Get it now? Let Earth receive her King.

 HELLOOOO. That is our galaxy (part of it, anyways). YOU BELONG TO THAT. Take a deep breath. Christ is our king. Christ made that. He made this awesome piece of rock that we live on. He made this galaxy. He made thousands more. We have no idea how infinite his power is. All we know is that he is our King. He is our Savior. He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane for us. He died on a cross, crucified for you. For me. For all of humanity. And three days later, he rose a triumphant victor over death. So we may be victors as well. 

1. 1. He is risen! He is risen!
   Tell it out with joyful voice.
   He has burst his three days' prison;
   Let the whole wide earth rejoice.
   Death is conquered; man is free.
   Christ has won the victory.
2. 2. Come with high and holy hymning;
   Chant our Lord's triumphant lay.
   Not one darksome cloud is dimming
   Yonder glorious morning ray,
   Breaking o'er the purple east,
   Symbol of our Easter feast.
3. 3. He is risen! He is risen!
   He hath opened heaven's gate.
   We are free from sin's dark prison,
   Risen to a holier state.
   And a brighter Easter beam
   On our longing eyes shall stream.
   (Hymn number 199 in the English LDS Hymn book)
   
   Deuteronomy 6:5
   Moroni 10:32
   Matthew 5:43-44 (keep in mind Mosiah 2:17)
   John 3:16
   John 15:13
   John 21:15-17
   1 John 4:7-21
   Alma 5:26
   Moroni 7:47
   Moroni 8:16
   
   
   
   
   
   So my question for you today is, why don't we show empathy for Christ?