Marci Nelson

Life is hard. There are things that happen daily that could get me stressed, anxious, discouraged, or worried. But because of what I know to be true, it leaves me with a hope that everything is going to be okay. Hope is a word that is often misunderstood. Hope often denotes a worry or a struggle that, "[I] hope ______ works out."  Hope, however, is much stronger than a wish. Hope is trust- hope is faith - that God knows what is best. Hope is an action word, a verb that signifies your ability to trust in a powerful being. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints is a Christian based faith that is in many ways similar to other churches based upon Christ. We believe in faith, good works, baptism, and grace just like many others do. Our church, however, is different in the way that it focuses on not only the individual, but the family. Because our church is lead by Jesus Christ, we need a mouthpiece, a spokesman if you will, to teach us what God and His Son w...

I was always told that I was a goal-setter growing up. That I naturally gravitated towards a schedule, being organized and using my time wisely. Then I became a teenager. The only way  I can describe this change of personality is with the word 'rebellion'. I rebelled against making goals. Why? Because goals are for people who can't promote change in their lives with pure willpower. Perhaps it's because goals are for people who need to change. For me, I think, was the fact that I didn't like failing. And making goals was just setting me up for failure. I remember sitting in Young Women's thinking, "why is personal progress so necessary? I'm a good person, I just don't write things down!" Because of this aversion to goals, I haven't received my YW Medallion yet. I'm almost done, but I don't quite have it. Why does this bother me now? I have learned since living on my own, that goal-setting is absolutely ESSENTIAL. If you w...

I sit here tonight in my first ever apartment. Riviera apartment number 8. Bedroom behind the bathroom. My roommate, Rachel, has gone home for conference weekend and I get to lie here and think about my ambitions, dreams, goals, and desires. Not only that, but I get to think about how blessed I am to be here at the Lord's University. Upon arrival here at BYU-Idaho, I have been reminded over and over again why it is that I am here. A year ago I never would have let myself come here - I wanted to break the mold and do something no one had ever done before! I wanted to make a name for myself- do exotic things, with exotic people, at exotic places. My goal upon arrival was this: I am going to get my associate's degree here, serve a mission, and then transfer to Utah State to get my bachelor's degree in Music Therapy. And then perhaps go on for a master's degree. The first two days of my stay here in Rexburg consisted of those dreams diminishing and new ones arriving. ...