To start off I think I will tell a story of myself. I met Devon when I was 16, he was the produce boy at Albertsons and I was the courtesy clerk learning the ropes at my first job. The first time I talked to him I admit I had a little crush. But as we continued to get to know each other I saw the sincerity and what a great guy he truly is. Well as we worked together I think it took a couple weeks before he asked me on a date to the movies, when I called to ask my dad he broke my heart when he told me no and that he would have to come to dinner with my family so my dad could meet him first (I was the first daughter). So Devon being a good sport came over and met my family, my dad approved and later that week Devon asked me to come to dinner at his house on a Sunday night. Well I didn’t know much about Devon except that he was religious and that was a very big part of his life. After dinner Devon told me we were going to a fireside. Living outside the Seattle area I was confused why they wanted to take me to a fireside when it was raining out on a Sunday night but I was polite and up for something new. When we arrived to the house and I met a small family, 2 other kids our age and about 6 missionaries I realized that a fireside wasn’t what I had originally thought. Well needless to say I had my first missionary discussion. After Devon and I continued to get to know each other over the next few months and I continued to take the missionary discussions I decided I wanted to be baptized. Respecting the rules of my parents house I was baptized at 18, shortly after graduating highschool. Devon and I continued to date into my first semester at school and before his mission. This brings me to my first opportunity that I was given at BYU-Idaho. My first calling ever, I was called into the relief society presidency. Fresh out of the few young women classes I did go to I began to serve, and I can’t even explain the countless things I learned, the people I got to know and the spiritual growth that happened because of that calling. I think with what little understanding I had it would have been easy to say that I didn’t know what I was doing, or to consider not accepting the calling, but acting on faith and what I did know I had one of the greater experiences of my life which helped me in future callings as well.
I think this goes along with something else that I have learned a tremendous amount times through experiences at school, and that is to be a leader. My last few semesters at school I was called as Relief Society President, this was my senior year, I was engaged and I had a job for one of the first times since highschool. I guess you could say I was busy. I was sitting at home on a Sunday night when my roommates brother came over. We were in the same stake and he was an elders quorum president and we frequently talked about our experiences and tried to help and just chat when we had the chance. Well the night that he came over there just happened to be a CES fireside, I was tired from early morning meetings and probably had a headache or something but I wasn’t sure that I wanted to go. This was one of the things that he talked about. He asked me if I was going. When I told him I wasn’t sure he asked if I would go with him and I decided that I would go. That fireside was one of the best ones that I had been to for that time period that I was going through and I can still remember what it was about. Well my friend had seen that a fellow child of God was not going to meeting that he knew would bless my life. He saw me doing something that he could easily make it better and all he had to do was ask if I would come with him. He was a leader and because of this experience it is something that I will never forget. Sometimes all we have to do is just ask.
I also see my husband do this time after time with different opportunities that come up. He is constantly trying to do what is right and bring others up with him. I see him do it almost weekly with devotional other meetings, and even our family scripture study at night and I love him for that.
Another place to be a leader is with your roommates. The whole time I was at school I had wonderful roommates. We had a few bumps or some girls that we didn’t exactly get along with but we made do and were always able to include everyone. One of the reasons I think we made this possible was because no matter what, we always tried to do family prayer at night as an apartment. I can remember one semester we were all on different schedules with bed times but we’d wake each other up or do it outside the door of the one that was sleeping but we’d all take turns. Sometimes we’d think prayers were too long or short or we’d be upset with one another but we tried to pray together and I know that we were blessed as a closer apartment because of it. It always took us a while because we talked about our days and other things. What I did notice during that time was the same thing, it only took one of us to remember and ask and we were able to make it happen. The leader for the night was who brought it together. So remember that all you have to do is ask. It was a fun experience and how many other times in your life are you going to live with so many girls or guys?
Lastly I think I’ll talk about dating. I know that many guys and girls get tired of hearing about dating at BYU-I do but it was a big part of my time spent here. So Devon and I dated up until the time he left on his mission and we talked about me dating when he left but I wasn’t sure if I’d be up to it and at that time i knew I wanted to marry him when he returned home. I don’t know if this applies to anyone who is reading, but it took me about 3 months before I was really in a place where I could go on my first date, and I did. I went on a couple dates with the person who took me out and he is still one of my good friends this day. A little after a year after Devon left I met someone that wasn’t just a date. We had a lot of fun and before I knew it I fell in love. We dated almost a year on and off, and I quickly wrote off Devon, just that our letters couldn’t be serious, or that we’d write once a month, no more saying 'I love you' ...things like that. Well before I knew it Devon was home, and he was charming, smart, spiritually high, and all the things that you’d want in a husband and wanting to date me, but I didn’t want much to do with him. After about a month and a half of him being home we started dating again and two weeks later, engaged. He came home the first week of March and on August 7, 2010 we were sealed in the Seattle Temple. It took me time over his mission to date, grow up, realize what I wanted and there was one experience that left people with a broken heart but the broken heart was worth it, it was how I realized that I wanted to marry my husband and without the experiences that I had during that time I don’t think I would have been ready when I was to get married. Dating definitely helped me grow as a person and figure out who I was. Also just think, for most of you this will probably be the only time in your life you will be surrounded by so many temple worthy people to date and get to know!
I look back at my time as a student fondly because I was able to take advantage of the opportunities given and I know soon I'll be looking back at our time in Rexburg with the same fondness for the same reason. I know there are many more opportunities than I mentioned but these were the few that I thought would help people get to know Devon and I a little better. I hope you enjoy.
