"I hope I find one!"

These words were not in response to a discussion on four-leaf clovers nor were they in response to a discussion of a penny found heads up. They were in response to a discussion on Eve, the "help meet" of Adam.

This is what I love about being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Being LDS (and single, woot woot), I have the opportunity to go to Institute. We have a new teacher who is awesome. Every Thursday night I come home with my mind blown trying to hash out, recap, and review what I just learned. Usually my sister is home and I get to spill everything to her. She asks questions which make me think harder and deeper, and reassures me that whatever I am hyped up about is quite an interesting point. I love having her around. When I come up with ridiculous questions about gospel topics she always either has an answer for me or is my voice of reason and steps me through what may logically be a plausible answer if it is a super abstract or out-there inquiry.

We are studying The Pearl of Great Price and are in the first few chapters of Moses. The Creation. So awesome. This is the matter that my mind is blown over tonight; The Earth goes through the same processes that we do. Creation of Spirit, physical creation, baptism by water, baptism by fire (or the Spirit), then eventual perfection. Ho.Ly. Cow. I knew all of these things happened to both man and the Earth but never connected them before. We are so connected to the Earth. This was the main subject of tonight's discussions. Our connection to the Earth, the Father, and to each other. We are connected to the Earth in terms of our elements and make. This is what Elder McConkie has to say about it,

"Those natural elements that make up the physical earth are sometimes referred to in the scriptures as dust. Thus Adam was created from the dust of the ground meaning that the physical body which he received was created from the elements of the earth. Similarly all men are created from the dust of the earth; that is, the elements organized into a mortal body are assembled together through the birth process."

How cool right? And being Mormon we then moved the discussion along to an "help meet" for Adam. AKA. Eve. Eve was created from the "rib" of Adam. As one person put it, she came from the rib, to be equal to Adam not below nor above. She came from the rib, close to the heart to be loved, and under the arm to be protected. Awwwwww. How cuteeeee! I wonder what pre-fall dating was like. Everything was perfect at this point in time so I guess Adam and Eve must win best first date ever by default right?

We got to discussing marriage (you know how we Mormons do from time to time) and I was reminded of my initial thoughts while listening to this talk during the latest General Conference (Skip ahead to 2:00). We watched a clip of it in Institute tonight and I was able to revisit those thoughts. I've always had this notion that progression stopped once married. That I needed to become the perfect me before I was married so I could help my children become their perfect selves before they get married. It's not like that. All of Elder Scott's stories allude to learning. To progression. He comments on what he learned from his wife and what they learned together. I was reminded that this entire life is about progression. Whether a member of the LDS faith or not, we are all here to progress. We are here to go to college, to have children, to gain experiences in our careers. All to learn. To become better and wiser people. We are all here to help each other.

This "I hope I find one!" comment may have been a funny one that got us all off track for a minute or two but when I think about every concept that is intertwined with it I am grateful for the opportunity that all of us have to "find one." Even if it is not right now or if it is not necessarily a husband or wife but a brother, friend, or neighbor instead. We are all here to make at least one other person have a better day. We are all worthy of "an help meet."

Though this fulfills about eighty different Mormon stereotypes I love the fact that everything we do can eventually be tied back to marriage or family. Just for kicks and giggles, here are a few other Mormon stereotypes/ "You know you're a Mormon if"s that ring true.
-names on the bottoms of plastic tupper ware containers and casserole dishes
- you have ever played water pong
- most of the staff at Costco, does indeed know your family
-you are 18 but have to date 20 somethings because all the boys your age and within 3 years older than you are gone on missions

*And my personal favorite: You can be given any random subject out of a grab bag and relate it back to marriage or family.

Oh the life of a single LDS individual. Mine is filled with game nights, Institute, Harry Potter parties, Harry Potter wand making parties, chalk drawing, water balloon splatter painting, camping trips, Saturday morning Temple attendance, 3 hour long church on Sundays, drive-in movie theaters, Moroccan dinners, suits and ties, softball games, etc. And I wouldn't have it any other way. People who say Mormons have less fun or less fulfilling lives are wrong. I am convinced that due to the necessity of creativity because of the lack of alcohol in our lives we Mormons have quite a fun, full life being us. Oh, and my mind gets blown every Thursday night. Mostly that.

P.S. I just picked up four books from the library today. Let's just say one is called, "The Tortilla Curtain" and I'll probably be going to bed no time soon.