Science and Religion

Two things that at first don't seem related. In fact, many believe it is better to separate science and religion as much as possible. That the two are incompatible and they actually contradict each other...

I'm currently taking PDBio 220, which at BYU is human anatomy with a cadaver lab. And each time I attend that class (three times a week in case you were wondering) my testimony grows. I won't lie - I was one of those people who thought that science and religion could coexist and that, yes, I'm religious but I can believe in the sciences as well. But the more I study them, the more I realize that they not only coexist, but are codependent. 

How wonderful it is to go to a school where that is so blatantly obvious! I can never know for sure if taking anatomy would have the same impact on me elsewhere, but I can say that going to a religious school and having religion so fully integrated in my studies is such a blessing.

This may seem random. Actually, I'm sure it's completely out of left field. But I just got an email from the coordinator of the anatomy labs in which she quoted the Prophet Joseph Smith:

God Himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret. If the veil were rent today, and the great God who holds this world in its orbit, and who upholds all worlds and all things by His power, was to make Himself visible,—I say, if you were to see Him today, you would see Him like a man in form—like yourselves in all the person, image, and very form as a man; for Adam was created in the very fashion, image and likeness of God, and received instruction from, and walked, talked and conversed with Him, as one man talks and communes with another (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 2007, 40).

She went on to comment, "Isn't it humbling to know that when we are studying the human body we are also studying the anatomy of God?"

Every once in a while I just have those "Aha" moments here on campus and that was one of them. I'm so grateful to have this perspective in my learning, and I know that I'm growing in my studies of both my religion and my education. I feel like things just make more sense this way, you know?

(If you are curious about the "Mormon terms" used here, follow the links!)

Maybe Utah Isn't That Bad After All

The View From Window

In fact, I think I might've gotten pretty lucky.

I Just Don't Know...

So this blog is the closest thing I have to a journal. I know that that is so pathetic. I mean everything you see is not everything I write, simply because somethings are more personal for obvious reasons. But I really do feel like I need to blog/journal more. Things are more exciting here and the Y than I let on, promises! And I know that I will regret not writing things down later on. But how do I know what's going to be important years down the road if I don't even know what's important five seconds from now?
This has been hands down the most challenging time in my life. The Church puts so much emphasis on the youth and then all of sudden, it's like "Here you are. Out you go into the real world. So... good luck with that." And the young adults are all trying to figure out what just happened and at the same time stay spiritual and stay focused on our studies and make friends and re-establish life as we know it.
But I truly believe that the Lord is there to guide us. (I promise I wasn't planning on being cliché when I started typing this) He know what's going on and has a better view of the future than I ever could. So here's to sticking to it, and plugging along when the tough times come.

"New Year, New Look, New Attitude"

One of the girls on my floor came into my room and said this when we got back from break and I love it.
I've never been the type to care about a new year. Like ever. In fact this was kinda my opinion of them:

But for some reason 2013 is different. Maybe it's because I'm a kawledge girl now and a new year means a new semester and a completely new start. Maybe it's because I went home and realized how much I've grown and I'm excited for the new year because it means more growth! Or maybe I'm just being Brittani and it's a phase that I'm momentarily excited about.

As for the new look - I'm still a ginger so that hasn't changed. Don't worry.

Happy New Year!