Introduction: Who am I? Where am I going? Why am I here?

Hello, blogosphere!Welcome to my blog! To get things started, let me answer a few questions that may be on your mind.
Who are you? 

My name is Savannah M. Hawkins. I am an 18 year old freshman (until this semester is over!) at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, hoping to get into the acting program. I love people-especially children, because (let’s face it) they are so much cooler than we are-, places, things. You know, basic nouns! Okay, so to be serious: I do love people. If I wasn’t looking into the arts, I’d probably go into something like anthropology, or linguistics, or even elementary education. I am fascinated by the way that different people interact in different situations and how they respond to new information. I’m the type of person that remembers the first time I saw you. Not just the first time that we met and had some sort of exchange, but I remember the time when I saw you in the Wilkinson Student Center on my way to fill up my water bottle from the water fountain. If I hear your name once, I usually remember it forever, long after you have forgotten me. I feel like that is a good quality, but some people take it the wrong way when you know more about them than they know about you. I promise that I am not some stalker girl. It’s just how my brain functions.

I also love to learn. Learning can be tedious at times, but the benefits are so important. As a natural redhead (NOT a “ginger”. My hair is red, or AUBURN, not ORANGE or tan (like the actual color of ginger.) I can be stubborn and somethings are hard for me to learn, but I do enjoy the “a-ha” moments when something finally clicks in my brain. I do consider myself an intelligent person. I may not be the smoothest when it comes to certain situations, but for the most part I am also not socially awkward. (Does saying that make me socially awkward? I hope not!) I graduated with a 3.9 GPA from Penn Foster High School in Pennsylvania through correspondence (I am from Texas and had lived there my entire life until moving to Provo for school). I grew up with an amazing family who taught me specific values and standards that I have tried my very best to continue to uphold.

Now, you may be wondering “She goes to school in Utah, loves children and talks about values and standards… Is she a Mormon?” Well, let me be the first to admit it! Yes, I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have been a member of this church since I was baptized at 8 years old. My father’s family have been in the church for quite a few generations, while my mother’s mother joined the church when my mom was just a baby. I have two older brothers who both served for two years on missions in Oregon and Washington states and I look up to them because of the great men that they are. Recently, the age for young women to serve missions for the church has been lowered to 19, instead of 21, which I believe is an absolutely wonderful thing! Now the question you may ask is “Are you going to serve a mission because you think it is such a great thing?” My answer: I don’t really know yet. I do know that right now is not the time for me to serve a full-time mission. In my congregation (known as a ward to those inside the church. Think of it like a school district: you go to a specific building at a certain time based on your geographical location.) I have recently been called (or assigned) to be on the missionary committee. This has been an answer to my prayers, because I have desperately wanted to do something to share my beliefs, but I did not feel that going on a mission for 18 months was the right way to go about that. I have a firm testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and I intend on letting everyone see that in me. I hope to be as Christlike as I possibly can, so that when I see Him again (because we will see him again.) I can know that I did all that I could to be worthy of returning to my Heavenly Father and his son.
Where are you going?

So, now you want to know where I am going. Well, at least I am going to tell you whether you want to know or not. 🙂 

My absolute goal in life is to become a wife and mother. Not just a wife and mother, but a devoted one who gives so much love to her family that they don’t know what to do with it! I want to raise my children like I was raised! To have a love for the Savior and their fellow man. Along the way, if a few hopes and dreams become reality, that would also be ideal. As for my career path, I don’t really know what I am going to end up doing. Yes, I want to be an actress. I want to go to LA or Hollywood and become one of America’s Sweethearts. Along with that, I know that the market for an LDS actress may be slim, but I plan on changing people’s view on the matter. There are things that I refuse to do just for fame, or a paying gig, or even just friendship. I will never compromise my values or my standards, and I believe that there is power in that. I am usually an easy person to get along with, unless you attack someone I love, or my religion. 

I plan on graduating from BYU with a BFA in Acting, then go on to graduate school if my circumstances allow. 

Thinking out into the beyond future, I am planning on making it back to live with my Heavenly Father. Ultimately, that is where I want to be. I believe that families can be together forever, so I am planning on having my family there with me. I would also love to see you there! How wonderful would that be! I could see you in Heaven and tell you about the time I first saw you. And you would wonder when that was. 😉
Which brings us to my last question to answer:

Why are you here?

I am currently taking a class at BYU called The Book of Mormon 122, or the second half of the book. For this class, I am required to create a “capstone project” that I work on for at least an hour each week to further my understanding of the second half of The Book of Mormon. What I have decided (and been approved) to do, is create a blog (this blog) that explores the doctrine and teachings found in this book as I learn more about what it means to me. I want to invite you on the journey with me, to come to a better understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I plan on doing this in a way that you can see my perspective of the material, and my personal testimony of the words contained in The Book of Mormon. Even if you are not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints, or don’t believe in The Book of Mormon the way that I do, I would still ask you to please read this blog. You will get to know me in a more intimate way by knowing my beliefs and I would like that. If you find yourself having questions about what I write about, ASK! You can go to www.Mormon.org and find lots of useful information about this religion. I recommend going to the source of the church to find information about what it teaches, rather than go to some random site online that has a bunch of lies and or half-truths. Think of it this way: you wouldn’t go to a doll maker to fix your broken leg. While they work with things that resemble the leg, they work with plastic, wood, beads, or cotton, not human flesh.

On this journey I will use more than just my assigned reading (which I will post so that you may follow along if so desired) in The Book of Mormon. I also find scriptures from the Bible (I prefer the King James version), modern day prophets, and possibly Shakespeare or other great poets, philosophers, and teachers that apply to the topic at hand. I may even occasionally mention a song for you to listen to, because I feel like music speaks to the soul in a way that mere words cannot.
Since I’ve kept you long enough for today, let me leave you with this thought: We are all God’s children. He loves each and everyone of you as he does me. It is SO important that you know this principle. All good things come from God, because he wants you to be happy. “He Knows Me Better” by Jenessa Buttars is a beautiful song that has helped me through somethings and I encourage you to go listen to it.
Finally, here are two of my absolute favorite scriptures:
Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
1 Corinthians 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
In other words, no matter how hard things get, we can do it, if we put our trust in the Lord.
Have a great week everyone! Stay alert and watch for my next post!
With love to you all,

Savannah M. Hawkins