Today is Sunday. A very nice Sunday, point of fact. I thoroughly enjoyed church today.

As I say that, a thought may arise. For that thought, I confess guilty. Yes, I am religious. Very much so, in fact. Some consider me to be overly religious, even a "goody two-shoes" per se. But, you know how teenagers can be...

So, yes, I am a religious person. What religion you might ask? Well, prepare yourselves for your shock of the day. Would you like to take a guess? No? Well, then I will just have to tell you myself. I am...(drum roll, please)...

LDS.

"Huh?" some of you might say? What's LDS? Isn't that a drug or something? (Sorry, that's LSD, thank you very much) No, it isn't a drug. You might know it by the more common term of Mormon. Yes, I am Mormon. Although, being a technical individual, I much prefer LDS, because that is the name of the Church. It is not the Mormon Church. It is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, LDS for short. I take pride in it, and I think that all Mormons should be more specific in the way they refer to themselves.

I was born and raised in the Church, and my perceptions are greatly influenced by the things that I have learned while belonging to it. I have learned to be more observant and to look for deeper meaning in things, which, fundamentally, is the reason why I started this blog. To share those things that I have learned from my experiences.

I also have gained an understanding of the concept of hope. I have come to know that if I do all that is expected of me, namely my very best, then everything will work out in the end. This is a concept that some find hard to grasp. Let me elaborate on the subject.

With the belief of Deity emerges a certain devotion and reverence. This is evidenced by the life of one who believes in such a Being. If one believes in God, and in His word, then one's actions should reflect that belief. Now, this concept also may debatably go against some of traditional Protestant teachings, in the sense of the importance and doctrine of good works. I am not going to go into a debate about such differences of dogma. Suffice it to say that we should act according to our beliefs.

Because I believe in God, I believe that there is a higher purpose to things that happen on the Earth. I search for these purposes, especially in the trials that I face. I believe and know that God, my Heavenly Father, has a purpose for my life. I know that He has given me commandments that I must follow. Commandments to love Him, and to "love thy neighbor as thyself." We all are commanded things by Him, regardless of whether we choose to accept it or not. One such commandment is very thought provoking.

As said in Matthew 5:48, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." What a challenge! We are commanded to be perfect. Well, isn't that impossible, because no one is perfect? (Deity exempt)

Well, let us think about it for a second. Why would Heavenly Father command us to do something if it were impossible to do? Why would He require us to be something that we cannot be?

He hasn't.

If He commands us to do something, then it is attainable. Possibly very difficult, be attainable. And not as if we have to do it on our own. That WOULD be impossible. But, with His help, we can become perfect and we can obey His commandments. This also means that we can do anything that is required of us by Him. With His help, of course. (see 1 Nephi 3:7)

So, because I know these things, I know that I can, in fact, do all that is required of me if I do my part and leave the rest to Him. That is why I have reason to hope.

So, I do.