Marci Nelson

A good friend once said to me, "Ya know, I am so grateful for my knowledge of the Plan of Salvation. Without it, I would feel pressured to get married RIGHT NOW or to serve a mission. But because I know my Savior lives and loves me, I know that He has a plan for me. And I don't have to feel jealous, because I know the Lord knows what He is doing." As I've pondered on my friend's perspective, I've had to consider my place in His Plan. I want to serve a mission, yet I'm still living at home with my parents. I want to get married, but I still think that boys have cooties. So what am I doing with my life? Am I even making a difference? Sometimes I like to victimize myself and think, "if only I had money, then I could make a difference". If I were under different circumstances, then my life would be better. If I didn't have to work, then I would have more time on my hands to do the things that really matter. Sometimes I get jealous of other...

I LOVE Sundays. Why don't they come around more often? Today in sacrament meeting, I learned that it's just as important WHY you do something as it is to DO SOMETHING. Last Sunday I made a goal for myself to do one thing every day that shows the Lord I love Him. I love goals like this because 1) it is attainable! I can do one thing every day. 2) It's just for a week. It's not an overwhelming task. 3) I try to live my life for the Lord anyway; this just helps me make a conscious effort to do things for HIM. So this week was amazing, to say the least. I by no means was perfect and I most definitely am not getting translated any time soon. However, I could feel His love in more abundance this week, and I wasn't so overwhelmed with all the things I needed to get done. I just served Him and I was HAPPY! This week I served my family, attended the temple, did family history, prayed with real intent, and studied my scriptures more purposefully. I think at the end ...

Today brought back one of my favorite memories. Growing up, my mom always sang. She has a beautiful voice. One of my favorite things when I was little was when my mom would sing to me as I was falling asleep. She sang this song that I had to look up the title for, because I always referred to it as "The Angel Song". Though the proper title is "Angel Lullaby", I think my made-up title wasn't too far off from how I feel about my mom. I wish I could upload a link of my memory, but since that technology hasn't been invented yet, here's the lyrics: "You came from a land where all is light to a world half day and a world half night. To guide you by day, you have my love, To guard you by night, your friends above. So sleep, sleep, till the darkness ends, guarded by your angel friends. So sleep, sleep, till the darkness ends, guarded by your angel friends. There's one stands softly by your bed and another sits close with a hand on your head...

Look at my smokin' hot sister singing "At Last". Sing it sistah! Posted by Crystal Nelson on Thursday, April 2, 2015

You don't even know.  You don't even know how hard and truly amazing this week has been for me.  Since starting college, I've experienced many challenges. I went from a small town high school where I had a purpose, to a college not even fifteen minutes away where suddenly I'm given the chance to start new, and nobody knows me. I have the chance to re-define who I am and what I am known for.  You don't even know how exciting and absolutely frightening that can be.  First semester was great, but not without struggle. I had to discover a lifestyle that helped me feel balanced and happy, while still being flexible enough to be an instrument in His hands.  You don't even know how often I failed, and how often my weaknesses were made strengths. Chelsea and Ashlee got their mission calls, and I was so happy for them! I knew that they were going to be great missionaries. Yet a part of me became jealous. They don't have to focus on anything for...

I have some thoughts for you. Let me take a minute and express gratitude to you for the amazing, wonderful, influential people you are. When I was in Jr. High, I did not have any friends. I wasn't bullied necessarily, and people were usually always kind to me, but I just didn't have any special connections with anyone. I so desired to have a friend, and cried myself to sleep every night not knowing who I was going to talk to or sit with that day. During that low time in my life, I learned some things. I learned that my family will always be there. I learned that I am strong, even if I stand alone. I learned that I have a friend in my Savior Jesus Christ. Though that year and a half in my life was hard, I wouldn't trade it for anything because of those relationships I established with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and my family. To Ashlee, You are the friend I was blessed with and promised in a Father's blessing at the beginning of my freshmen year. Though our frie...

2015 is already proving to be a very different year. 2014 was exciting and full of lots of surprises - performing as the witch in Into the Woods, graduating from high school, getting a niece, having my last voice recital, going to my first semester of college, watching my friends put in their mission papers and open their calls, taking my first real life college finals, moving away from home, and living with my best friends. One thing that made all this change bearable- was having all of my friends and family near me. 2015 is different. I have all of my best friends leaving within the next two months. I'm currently starting my second semester with roommates that I don't know and standards that aren't quite up to par. This year will be the year that I get out of my comfort zone and really learn a lot about myself. Perhaps my difficult roommates will prove to be a missionary experience. Maybe I'll learn to be bold while still being kind. Perhaps I will have to branch ou...