Disneyland
Of course Disneyland was beyond fantastic! I think it is worth noting, we went to Disneyland Hong Kong, not California. I didn't even think about it, because living in China, the Hong Kong one seems like the most logical one to go to, but a few of my Utah friends were upset that we didn't visit them when we went to America. But of course we didn't go to America. HK Disney is quite a bit smaller than that of it's Cali counterpart. It has less attractions, and characters, and even has some different rides (like Grizzly Gulch, and Mystic Manor, which is kind of HK's version of Haunted Mansion).
I think Tiana and I enjoyed it more than anyone else. Typically you think of little kids getting all excited about Disney, and though my brothers were extremely excited to go, they just don't know Disney like Tiana and I do. They haven't seen a lot of the classic Disney movies, so it just wasn't as meaningful to them; However, Disneyland is the embodiment of Tiana's and my childhood. I think we both about peed our pants we were so excited when we first walked in. There's just this magic in the air. I'm most definitely working there when I'm older.
For us, the characters were of top priority. We each bought a Disney book, and fountain pen in our lovely Nanjing in which to gather our signatures. We were a little disappointed because when we looked on the website, there weren't many characters that were supposed to be at HK Disney, but we figured something was better than nothing. Obviously for Tiana and me, the princesses were our main focus. On the website, it only had Belle, Cinderella, Aurora, and Snow White listed. Though we were confounded that HK didn't have Mulan, I was ok with the small assortment of princesses because Belle is my favorite. Crazy thing is, the only princesses we saw (other than seeing the four previously listed in a parade) were Rapunzel and Aurora! Though I didn't get to see Belle, I was beyond extatic to see any Princesses, and Rapunzel is Tiana's favorite, and near the top for me; and Aurora is my mom's favorite, so it all worked out well!
The rides of course were fantastic! The first day as we went through everything, we had a lot of time wasted just standing around planning what to do next, so when we went back for the second day, we had a clear (but flexible) plan outlined with everything we wanted to do! Trevon and I were ride buddies, and we tried to get a selfie on every ride. There is never a dull moment with this kid, so I was glad to be his ride buddy.
Another very important thing, for me at least, are the SHOWS!! We saw a Lion King Show, Golden Mickeys, and the Philharmickey (or something like that)! We saw all the shows on the second day, and they probably took up the most amount of time! Not because they were that long, none was over an hour, but because we had to wait for ever in a line! Chinese people are known for queueing... Well in Mainland it's usually more of a clump, but I think in HK they understand the idea of a line a bit better. In China you see people lining up extremely early for no specific reason (imagine black friday every single day). One of the best examples of this is the train station. People will be lining up for the train waay before it's time to board, and everyone already has a ticket, so there's no reason to even be lining up! For all the shows (except Philharmickey because it's not actually live, so it's playing all day) we lined up at least an hour early. When arriving at the Lion King show about an hour early to assess the situation, the lady told us we only need to line up right now if we wanted a front row seat, but that we could come 15 minutes before it started if we wanted to sit in the back. There's no way I'm sitting in the back if I've got the option to sit front row to see such amazing talent, so we did what China taught us, and queued. I think that the waits were definitely worth it! The performances were fantastic! If you've seen, or at least seen pictures of the Broadway show of The Lion King, that was kind of how the Disneyland show was. The costumes weren't as intense, and it was a more of a kid version, but I was blown away. And the Golden Mickeys was an "award show" highlighting some famous songs from different disney movies. It was so surreal watching all these people I've adored since the age of three performing... even if they aren't real. And the Philharmickey was a 4-D movie where Donald was supposed to be setting up an orchestra enchanted by the hat from the Sorcerers apprentice bit from Fantasia 20000 for Mickey's performance, and he starts messing around, and travels from musical number to musical number in different Disney movies trying to get the hat back. We wouldn't have gone if Tiana and Marissa hadn't pushed for it, so I'm very glad that they did!
I just cannot get over how fantastic it was!!
The Temple
We also spent two days at the other most magical place on the face of the earth, the Temple. I love going to the temple so much! I forget how uplifting it can be when I only have the opportunity about every 6 months. It also makes the temple so much more meaningful. Not going to lie, I, like most Utah Mormons, used to take the temple for granted. It was just down the street, and we had leaders who would offer to drive us on a regular basis when I was in Beehives and Mia Maids. When they were doing construction on the road in front of my high school, we'd drive past the temple on our way home from school because it was quicker. But living in China, and having the temple taken away from me, has shown me how important it is that I go whenever I have the opportunity. It also made my decision to go to SUU that much sweeter when last general conference [in October, not the one we just had] the Cedar City temple was announced! The HK temple is a lot smaller than any of the temples I've been to before, which caused the layout for the baptismal font area to be a little different than I'm used to, but I didn't mind it much because I was actually at the temple! It was neat because there were a lot of Mainland China members there! While in Mainland China, we aren't allowed to talk to any native Chinese people about the church. We even have to meet separately from them. In some cities, like Beijing, they all meet in the same building, just at different times, but here in Nanjing, us foreign members have no idea where our Chinese brothers and sisters meet. We do know there are members in Nanjing, just not how many. But being able to see them in the temple melted my heart. There were some girls from Beijing doing baptisms at the same time as us, I wish we had gotten to talk to them, but they left before we got the opportunity. My dad was able to confirm and baptize me in chinese which was one of the neatest experiences! There's just something wonderful about doing the work for chinese people, in china, in chinese :) And when my mom and dad did their sessions, my dad was able to do that in Chinese too. I just can't wait to go to the Taiwan temple! I'm sure that will be an even more amazing experience because my dad served his mission in Taiwan. Also, if everything goes as planned at the moment, when I go the the Taiwan temple, I'll also be going to receive my endowments for my mission! I'm just so excited for all of this!
Being in the temple, and feeling the spirit of it all, really helped me to know that this is the truth. Though other churches have bits of the truth, this is the only church that has all the truth. All because of a 14 year-old boy who had a question, and the desire to know the truth. It's kind of long, but I feel like Joseph Smith's words accounting his first vision are just so strong, and no matter how many times I've read, or heard this, I feel the spirit so strong. I am just so thankful to this wonderful man, and all he has done for the world. I wouldn't have a temple like this to go to if it weren't for him. I wouldn't even be living in China. Joseph Smith is a great example because he showed us how to know the truth. He showed us the best way to find answers. I've followed after his example of earnest prayer more times than I can count, and even though I've never had God or Christ appear before me, let alone an angel, I've always received an answer. and I invite you, whether you're Mormon or not, to do the same. If your heart and mind are in the right place, you might be amazed at the results.
10 In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them bea right, which is it, and how shall I know it?11 While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading thea Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lackb wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.12 Never did any passage ofa scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person neededb wisdomfrom God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sectsc understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible.13 At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain ina darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to “ask of God,” concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and wouldb give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture.14 So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to thea woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of ab beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt toc prayd vocally.15 After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I wasa seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thickb darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.16 But, exerting all my powers toa call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink intob despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar ofc light exactly over my head, above the brightness of thed sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.17 It no sooner appeared than I found myselfa delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me Ib saw twoc Personages, whose brightness andd glory defy all description,e standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is Myf Belovedg Son. Hear Him!18 My object in going toa inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were alla wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that thoseb professors were allc corrupt; that: “theyd draw near to me with their lips, but theire hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines thef commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny theg power thereof.”
I wanted to finish the blog post with an excerpt from Elder Holland's talk from the conference we just had. This quote is about a million times more powerful when he's actually saying the words. I just loved the power and conviction with which he delivered this. I was a little surprised, though I shouldn't have been, with how adamant he was. He's more certain of these things, than he was that he was standing before a conference house full of people... That's the kind of testimony I want to have. I feel like I've got a fairly strong testimony, though I've had my moments of weakness, but I don't know if I'm to the point were I can say "I am more certain that those key have been restored and that those ordinances are once again available through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints than I am certain that I am typing this blog post right now" One day I want to have that conviction. I know it won't be easy, but it will be worth it. And here is me setting my goal to reach that level of faith.
Friends, especially my young friends, take heart. Pure Christlike love flowing from true righteousness can change the world. I testify that the true and living gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth and you are members of His true and living Church, trying to share it. I bear witness of that gospel and that Church, with a particular witness of restored priesthood keys which unlock the power and efficacy of saving ordinances. I am more certain that those keys have been restored and that those ordinances are once again available through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints than I am certain I stand before you at this pulpit and you sit before me in this conference.
If you ever have questions about the church, don't be afraid to ask me, or even better a missionary from our church. If you want to know more, visit lds.org or mormon.org. I have found more joy through this church than any other source, and the only reason I share anything about this church is because I want you to feel the same joy.
P.s. I'll try to update this post with pictures later :)
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