I love to see the Temple

1. I love to see the temple.

I’m going there someday

To feel the Holy Spirit,

To listen and to pray.

For the temple is a house of God,

A place of love and beauty.

I’ll prepare myself while I am young;

This is my sacred duty.

2. I love to see the temple.

I’ll go inside someday.

I’ll cov’nant with my Father;

I’ll promise to obey.

For the temple is a holy place

Where we are sealed together.

As a child of God, I’ve learned this truth:

A fam’ly is forever.

This was always one of my favorite primary songs as a kid, and it still is. It's a great song, and the message is sweet and simple.  I especially love hearing little kids sing this song, it's awesome!  

When I would sing it as a small primary child, I would always imagine what my first trip to the temple would be like, and what a beautiful day dreaming moment it was.  Since those days, I haven't been able to go inside the temple as described to the song, but I have been able to participate in the sacred work that us youngin's get to do; baptisms for the dead.  And I love it!

Last Saturday I got the opportunity to go with some family and friends to the temple and do baptisms for the dead.  Needless to say, it made it one of the best weekends I've had in a while.  And at the end of the night, we had 45 of my family members baptized and confirmed, a closer feeling to the Spirit, and wet hair. haha

And if you missed the fun this weekend, don't worry, I'm planning on doing it again soon.  

The next day, (Sunday), was Stake conference.  Ironically enough, the first two talks were about Temples.  It was awesome!  However, there was one statement that stuck out to me the most, which went something like this; "When time seems scarce and life gets hectic, that is when we need to visit the temple the most."  This is not a direct word-for-word quote, but the message is still powerful.  So when your life's getting crazy and you just need a time-out, give me a call, I'll be happy go with ya'. 

And one other thing I love about the Temple, are pictures of them.  Take a gander;

Mt. Timpanogos, UT (the one we went to Saturday).  

Mesa, Arizona (my favorite)

Denver, Colorado

 Anchorage, Alaska (Eman's favorite)

 Freiburg, Germany

 Fukuoka, Japan

 Salt Lake, Utah

 Logan, Utah

 London, England

 London, England

 Lubbock, Texas

 Merida, Mexico

 Mesa, Arizona

 Salt Lake, Utah

 Orlando, Florida

 Rexburg, Idaho

 Salt Lake, Utah (yes, again)

 San Diego, California

 Laie, Hawaii

What's your favorite Temple? 

 (comments always welcome)

2012 "Bucket List"

This time last year in my English class, Mr. Dalton taught us a new way of doing new year's resolutions.  In his mind, were a waste of mind space.  People would make them, keep them for a week, then feel guilty for not keeping them for the rest of the year.  So instead of encouraging us to make resolutions, he taught us the ways of the 'yearly bucket list.'  He had us get out a piece of paper, had us write numbers 1 - whatever age we were at the time, then next to each number, he had us write something down that we wanted to do that year.  As the year went on, we were to cross of the things we did end up doing, and for the things we didn't get to do - no worries! We'd just put it on next year's list.

My 2012 'Bucket List'

1. Read the Book of Mormon cover to cover.
2. Eat a Ghost Chili pepper.
3. See a Play.
4. Win Gold with my STAR event for this year.
5. Finish reading Les Miserables (unabridged).
6. Learn to Play Hedwig's Theme by Jarrod Radnich on Piano.
7. Dance in the rain, (rain party part 2, haha)
8. Go to Sammy's.
9. Do baptisms for the dead for 100 of my family members.
10. Ride an elephant.
11. Own a snake.
12. Hike to the G 12 times (once a month).
13. Go Paint balling.
14. Go to Arizona.
15. Make it into Advanced Jazz Band.
16. Turn 17.

Obviously, some of these are more likely to happen than others, but whether they all happen or not, it's going to be a fun year!

In my Fondest Memories..

In honor of today, (Jan. 9th 2012, the 4-year mark), I have decided to write my first blog post in memory of my father, Luke Tener Short.

As I sat in my 6th grade class in Peoria, Arizona, next one of my best friends Kylee, there was no way I could even fathom what my life could be 4 years from then.  Who would have know that within a few short years, I would be living in Pleasant Grove, Utah, making lots of new friends, and preparing to become a musical therapist.

To me, this is all proof of how your life can change in an instant.

I had a really great relationship with my dad, and I miss him tremendously. Not a day goes by when I don't think of him or what life would be like if he were still here.
However, the purpose of this blog post is not to mourn over my loss, but to celebrate all the many lessons he taught me, and all the lessons I learned because of him.  

He taught me to love the Gospel and my Heavenly Father with all my heart, mind, and soul.  He also taught me how to keep Christ as the center of my life.  

He taught me to work hard, to be ambitious, and to never cut corners.

He taught me how to keep a great sense of humor.  (Many of you may remember is humorous 'poetry' that he wrote for multiple events.  And, if you can't remember someone's name, their name is either Fred or George).

He taught me how to work with my hands, and to love the work I do.

He taught me how to garden, and how to keep the things you grow alive.  (He also taught me to never touch my eyes or any part of my face after you harvest jalapenos, haha)

He taught me the importance of family, and how to love them, (even though we all may be a little quirky).

He taught me Service!


He didn't teach me to much about music, but he did teach me to love singing and "If you can't sing.. sing loud!"

Even after he's gone, the lessons still continue.  If I've learned anything in this life of mine, it's Everything Happens for a Reason.  


Life may seem hard and confusing right now, but learning to look for the hidden blessings we receive through enduring, has made the world of a difference for me.
 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." -Proverbs 3:5-6


These are a few examples of that lesson that I have come to know.


Every trial we are given to endure will make us stronger.

Our family is one of our greatest blessings, and we became part of our own families for specific reasons.

Every friend we come across was given to us to teach us a lesson about life, and vice-versa.

Every teacher we were given, are set in our paths to not only to teach us, but to inspire us.

I am thankful for all the many blessing I have received throughout my life;
For all the places I have lived, and all the friends I have made.
For my two fathers in Heaven, and Jesus Christ, my greatest role models.
For my family, especially my parents and siblings.
For Kevin, an amazing step-father who has been sent to us to love us and guide us.
I am thankful the Church, the Gospel, and for my ward.

My friends, when you are going through hard time, I hope you remember, that with endurance comes great blessings.  I hope you will remember to pray to your Heavenly Father, and to turn to your friends and family here on earth in times of hardship.  I hope you will remember, that everything happens for a reason!

(I realize it's sideways, but you can turn your head right? haha)