The Beauty of Music

I had such an amazing experience today when i least expected it. I thought that I was going to be bored out of my mind and waste my time, but I was wrong. Today, I attended the Men's Choir and Women's Choir performance and it was beautiful! I had to attended for my voice class and at first I was a little upset that I had to spend my Saturday afternoon watching and listening to people sing. Yes, I do usually enjoy attending choir concerts, but seriously, on a Saturday? So, of course I went with a negative, sarcastic attitude.

However, as the music started, that negative attitude of mine quickly changed and I thought it was incredible. Both choirs started out with spiritual songs about the Savior and as I listened, I began thinking of my own life. I thought of how blessed I am to know that the Savior lives and that he cares for me. One of the songs talked about how he knows every need and every sorrow and every trial we go through. I thought of the stresses in my life right and simply felt calm. I knew I would have to face everything and that it would be hard, but I knew that it would be okay. Overall, I am happy that I was able to "waste" my time by attending the vocal performance because I loved it!

Magazines' Effect on the Body-Image of Adolescent Girls

Starting around the 7th grade, I began to have a health problems. I starting fainting sporadically, having feelings of overwhelming nausea,  and feeling extremely lethargic on a daily basis. My mom began taking me to many different doctors, but not until this last summer were the doctors able to figure out anything. They found out that I had a mild form of hypoglycemia and that my thyroid was hypo active. With both of these combined, they found that my body reacted strangely to sugars, carbohydrates, fats, and other various factors. As a result, I consulted often with a nutritionist who trained me in the science of nutrition and exercise. As strange as if may sound, I am grateful for my health problems because through it I was able to discover one of my biggest passions in life, which is the effect of diet and exercise on the human body. Also, through my training I became extremely interested in body image and eating disorders So when my class was asked to write down our three biggest passions in life and then choose one to write an issues paper about, I choose to write about how viewing magazines negatively effects adolescent girls self-image, their drive to be thin, and as a result, their overall health.

To start this assignment, I began researching in the library with our class. From the articles I read there, I have learned that adolescent girls are the most vulnerable to negative practices and ideas than males or any other female of a different age. They are pressured to meet unrealistic and unattainable "perfect body" goals seen in magazines. Some of these negative "practices" and "ideas" include adolescent girls' drive to be thin, their desire for social acceptance, body dissatisfaction, body image distortion, and unhealthy practices/habits such as excessive exercising and dieting, the usage of laxatives, and extreme eating disorders.

As I continue on in my research I am excited to be able to learn more. I may not be as excited to write the actual paper but I am happy to be informing others of what I know!

Time for Writing Reflection

Surprising to myself I enjoyed writing this rhetorical analysis paper. The speech that I choose was  "Women's Rights are Human Rights" by Hillary Clinton and it discussed the injustices of women throughout the world. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the speech because it motivated me to desire change in the world concerning the cruel way women are treated. It was such a structured assignment and because it was so structured, it was easier to organize my thoughts and write them in my paper. I loved how we were given the essay outline because I just followed exactly what it instructed. It was difficult at first to get started but as soon as I began my body paragraphs it seemed to flow. The hardest part of the essay for me was writing the thesis. It was difficult to explain all of the ideas that I had for my paper in a logical statement.   I am really grateful that we were allowed to have our instructor conferences. At my conference, we figured out how to better state my thesis in order to coherently include everything. The conference was also effective in that it helped me continue on in editing and organizing my paper. If allowed I would like to have a short conference before I turn any other papers so that I can correctly check my thesis and any other major errors. From this assignment I have noticed that in everyday speech people tend to use rhetorical devices in order to persuade others. However, they consciously do not know which tools they are using or even that that they are using them. I have even caught myself using certain devices while talking to my friends. Even thought this assignment was difficult, overall, I feel that it was beneficial to me as a writer and a student.

           

The Plan of Happiness

Today in relief society our lesson was on the post-mortal spirit world. At first I was listening, but not really listening with my heart. Then one of the teachers mentioned how the knowledge of the plan of happiness not only blesses us as individuals but as friends able to help others with difficult times in their lives. I immediately thought of my best friend from high school and the struggle she went through during our junior year of high school.

 I remember walking out to lunch just like any other day. My friend then came up to me and as I looked at her I could tell something was wrong. She was crying and when I pulled her to the side she informed me that her best friend from her childhood had been killed in a car accident. Her friend was on his way home from a motocross tournament up in the mountains. As he was on his way down the canyon with his trailer full of motocross bikes, his car hit some ice on the road and started rolling down the canyon. Her friend was killed instantly. I did not know exactly what to say to her but i just tried to comfort her with the knowledge that he was in the care of our Savior. I told her that she would see him again and that it would all be okay. She is Mormon so she fully understood the Plan of Happiness, but I still could never imagine the pain that she went through and still feels knowing that he is gone. She has told me how grateful she is that I was there that day to help her and to remind her of our Heavenly Father's plan.

I am so grateful to have known how to comfort her and to know that no matter what she will get to see her friend again. I am so grateful to know that the Plan of Happiness is real. Through it, I know that I will be able to see my grandfathers who have previously passed on. I know that through the atonement of Jesus Christ I will be able to live with my family forever. I know that if I live righteously I will receive the miraculous blessing of living with my Savior and my Father in Heaven again. I love my Savior and my Heavenly Father and I know that they love me. And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Persuasive Appeals of Hillary Clinton

Here's just a piece from my rhetorical analysis paper:

“Women’s Rights are Human Rights”: Hillary Clinton’s Use of Anaphora

            The United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women Plenary Session occurred September 4^th-15^th, 1995, in Beijing, China. At this Conference, over 4,750 delegates from 189 countries gathered to discuss the issue of the violation of women’s rights. On September 5^th, one of the speakers for the conference was first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton. In her speech, “Women’s Rights are Human Rights,” she educates and motivates the delegates of the conference to fight for the rights of women by using anaphoras to demonstrate ethos and provide a logical argument.

            Clinton’s first use of an anaphora occurs within paragraph nine. She speaks of edifying experiences Clinton increases her appeal to ethos. She explains, As Clinton recounts all of her experiences, her credibility in the eyes of her audience is increased. The delegates of the conference have a basis from which to trust her. They see her passion in the fight for women’s rights from which she hopes they are more willing to join her cause.

            Clinton effectively uses another passionately worded anaphora to inform the delegates of the conference what exactly “is a violation of human rights”. In doing so, she increases the clarity and the tension of her argument, thus providing her with a compelling argument. Repeatedly she defines that “It is a violation of human rights when, drowned, or suffocated…It is a violation of human rights when women and girls are sold into the slavery of prostitution…It is a violation of human rights when women are…burned to death…It is a violation of human rights when individual women are raped…It is a violation of human rights when a leading cause of death…is the violence…in their own homes…It is a violation of human rights when young girls are brutalized by…genital mutilation…It is a violation of human rights when women are forced to have abortions or [be] sterilized against their will” (para. 19-25).

One cannot argue against the fact that Clinton’s address “Women’s Rights are Human Rights” in the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women Plenary Session, affected the delegates in attendance. Through her use of multiple anaphoras, Clinton was able to inform the delegates of the problems that the women of the world face and motivate them to work for a change.

Become a Witness of Christ

Today in sacrament meeting, we had 3 exceptional talks. The second one was given by a girl named Stephanie and I thought that it was very interesting. Her focus was on the gospel principle that out the mouth of two to three witnesses every word shall be established. She mention how important this teaching was and explained how it was stated multiple times throughout the scriptures, including in Deut. 17:16, Deut. 19:15, 2 Cor. 13:1, Matt. 18:16, D&C 6:28, D&C 128:3, and many more. This repetition of a gospel principle helps to emphasize the importance that the Lord establishes his work and purposes through multiple speakers. Stephanie then continued her talk by giving example of where this principle is applied within the church. She gave the example of general conference. The Lord does not call just his prophet to speak to us, but he asks his prophet, his first presidency, his twelve apostles, and his quorums of seventy. She then spoke of missionaries preaching as a pair, each testifying of the truthfulness of this gospel. The Book of Mormon and the Bible also work as companions, both testifying of Jesus Christ as the Savoir of the World. She mentioned the three witnesses of the book of Mormon and explained that because of their testimonies, many were convinced that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. Stephanie also explained how she thought that it was interesting that in sacrament meeting we never have just the bishop speak week after week like a pastor or a priest would in another church. Instead, we always have new speakers giving new insight and bearing their testimonies, or in other words, every week we have more and more witnesses testifying of Christ and of his gospel.

After giving more examples of this gospel principle, Stephanie challenged all of the students in my ward to become a true witness of Christ and to not be "ashamed of the gospel of Christ" (Romans 1:16). She then referenced Mosiah 18:9 by telling us to "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places." I immediately thought of the common theme of New Media in general conference and in our Writing 150 class. Both in conference and in class, it has been instructed to not be afraid "to share the gospel," through the use of the internet, "and to explain in simple and clear terms the message of the Restoration" (Perspectives on New Media pg. 4). For it has been commanded that we must talk of Christ and rejoice in Christ. I personally know that I can do better at sharing the message of the gospel online. I know that if I do I can be an example to my non-member and member friend and become a true witness of Christ. Overall, I want to live like my favorite quote suggests:

"LIVE in such a way that those who know YOU, but don't know CHRIST, will want to know CHRIST because they know YOU" (unknown).

Go Cougars!

Yesterday was my first BYU football game as a BYU student and let me just say, I was incredibly excited! I was a little hesitant in using my money to buy a ticket but I decided that to make the homecoming game my first game would be a fabulous idea. So I bought my ticket as I was waiting for my teacher conference with Sister Steadman on Thursday and every moment from then until the game was just thrilling!

When Saturday came I could hardly control my excitement and when I was invited to go to my friends house for a pre-game dinner I could not help but grin from ear to ear. For dinner we decided to make cinnamon french toast which was such a great idea! Then, as I walked from my friends apartment in Wyview Park to the game, my excitement increased to a level that I did not know was even possible. I began running and skipping and dancing towards the entrances with my ticket in hand. (and yes, I am pretty confident when I say that the ticket man thought I was insane).

When I finally entered the grand stadium, I was so happy and proud to be a cougar! Many of the students here at BYU that I have talked to always talk negatively about our sports teams and athletes (specifically Jake Heaps right now), but no matter what happens on the field, no matter how arrogant the athletes can be, I am so grateful to be apart of the big BYU family. As the game began and all throughout the game I was so happy to be there. I do not know absolutely everything there is to know about football, but I still enjoyed it immensely. As the game concluded I was so pleased that we had won! Overall, I had such a great experience and I can not wait to go to my next BYU football game.

Through the Deceptive Currents of Life, We MUST Choose Eternal Life

I loved the October 2011 General Conference! It was the first time that I ever had the opportunity to attend and to see the prophet of the Lord. The spirit was so strong when President Thomas S. Monson walked in, and overall it was such an amazing experience! One of my favorite talks in the conference was given during the Sunday afternoon session by Elder Randall K. Bennett of the Seventy. His talk, entitled "Choose Eternal Life", was focused around Lehi's prophecies in which Lehi counsels that we are "free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil" (2 Nephi 2:27).

In order to portray this scripture, Elder Bennett decided to compare our choices in life to a personal experience of his through the use of an analogy. In doing so, he creates a mental picture which engages the audience and edifies his pathos. He told a story of how he was at a beach on a family vacation. On the beach there was a sign warning everyone of the strong currents. It advised people not to swim into open water. Thinking that this sign did not apply to him, he decided to swim anyways. Before he knew what was happening the deceptive currents had captured him; however, the life guard on duty saw Elder Bennett swimming out toward the current and knowing that he would not make it, he patiently waited for Elder Bennett to call for help. (para. 5). Similarly in our lives today, we hear the words of our living prophets advising us to stay away from the adversary and the dangers of the world. Too often we consider these rules to not apply to us, decide to not follow them, and without knowing it are eventually engulfed by the deceptive currents of the adversary. However, the Lord, like the life guard in the story, is always looking out for us. He is there when we need his help. All we have to do ask and he will guide us back to the light of his gospel. This analogy helps to explain that through the rough waters of life, the Lord is always there, if we but have the courage to ask. This feeling of hope and message of trusting in the Lord evokes an emotional response within his audience.

Mentioned in 2 Nephi, we do have a choice of either eternal life or captivity of the adversary, but as an apostle of the Lord, Elder Bennett is able to use his ethos to advise us to choose eternal life. He states, "It is never too late to begin to choose eternal life!" (para. 1 & 24). Being called of God, he is extremely credible. Therefore, his audience can trust him and follow his advice. Although life is difficult with the deceptive currents of the world all around us, we must not allow the adversary to slowly lead us away unknowingly. We must follow all of God's teachings regardless of how relevant they may seem to us. We must choose to follow Elder Bennett's advice to choose eternal life. I know that if we listen to what Elder Bennett's said and choose eternal life, we will truly be happy--not only in this life, but in the life to come.