Georgia's Testimony

"It’s true, it’s true, and no one can tell me otherwise because I feel the truth inside of me growing and defying any doubts on my heart that would tell it that it doesn’t have worth or hold the truth. I shake it off – the lies and judgments of man and Satan – and hold triumphantly the torch of Christ! I want that faith always and I want that hope always. I want to be that light. Christ makes it possible for me because He’s been showing me little by little that I am of worth. He is the definition of what I am truly inside and want to become. As I see that, I forget my worries and realize that I am founded on Him, and I have no fear because He is with me! Because Jesus Christ is with me, I forget myself because I know I am okay and I am secure on His rock, and then I can focus on others, on the gospel, on exerting myself to good, and building on Him. Then I progress, then I feel joy! Life holds no chains for me because I am liberated by that inherent Light given to me before the world. I know the Light is there because of Christ’s atonement – He gave all to serve us and to let us be like Him. Let us have joy! Oh, don’t you see, can’t everyone see that He is our God and Savior? He is the Christ and those words are finally becoming real and moving to me. I love Joseph Smith. I know how true Joseph’s vision was and I think what a wonder the restoration is. At church we sang the last verse of the hymn, “Joseph Smith’s First Prayer”. It begins, quoting Heavenly Father, “Joseph, this is my Beloved, hear him!” Oh it was powerful and the Spirit and the tears flowed. I realized the power and reality of this gospel while we sang and I was humbled by the thought that this feeling is for all people – from Christ."
-- Journal entry, September 16, 2002

The IU Tree

Here is the Dogwood tree planted in honor of Georgia on the music school campus at Indiana University. The pictures were taken September of this year, 2008.

Journal Entry Two from 2002

"What do prophets talk about? They preach plainly of Christ. He is their main focus and that is power. I feel I need to pray and know Him better...then I will have the courage and spirit necessary to share. I only want to be His servant, and i feel that the Book of Mormon is teaching me how I can be. I love that book and those it describes--they are heroes to me."

"I want to further the Kingdom, so to speak. This is a frequent desire of mine because, to me, there is nothing so important and pressing as this. There is nothing that is as strongly believed in my soul."

"The Book of Mormon is brought forth by the power of God. When I share it with others, I feel I can be confident that his power will go with me to shed light in darkness."

Journal Entry One from 2001

Here are two separate entries - both beautiful - from Georgia's journal. I will continue to post journal entries and just title them one, two, and so on. I apologize that they are not in a consecutive order. Please remember the sacred nature of her words and show deference in their usage.

"I believe that in sharing the gospel we are not sharing it with people that are so different, really. If I think of them as part of me--my family--and they simply need nudging and reminding, then it seems to click. It doesn't feel strange; it's like their souls are sleeping inside and all I need to do is tap them awake and they will open their eyes to what was dormant in their souls. It seems that the gospel is already in them--they knew it before this life, so the spirit can remind them...it is familiar. This makes missionary work seem so much more easy, natural. It is simply my job to be the 'tapper-on-the-shoulder."
"As I read the first three chapters of Ether, I love to see how Jesus Christ is over all. There are wonderful things said in these chapters and yet it also says that if we continue in sin we will be cut off. That is why I must be a better witness. And I can. As the Lord commands the winds and waves on the ocean, so does he give us our trials and delivers us from them... Jared's brother seeing Christ is powerful...I love to see such great faith and the reality that I will see Christ one day! I am hoping for the promptness of that day."

A Matter of Taste

I may not have much to contribute to this blog, never having met Georgia, but still I want to share that Adam and I remembered her while we were in Borders a few weeks ago. They were having a movie sale: Buy 2 get 1 free. We got 3 sets of musicals which included Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Singing in the Rain. I had seen the picture of Georgia holding her newly-opened Pride and Prejudice set (which alone made me confident that we could be friends), but Adam gave me some new information when he said that Georgia had her own copy of Singing in the Rain, too. I thought to myself, "Georgia is certainly my kind of girl."

Back at home, after watching Seven Brides, Adam posed the question, "Do you know anybody that has grown up on musicals that didn't turn out great?" "No," was my thoughtful response. We decided that a person who loves these classics must also be pretty wholesome. (And fun, silly, musical, down-to-earth, grounded, etc. ) It checks out with the entire Marriott family, doesn't it?

But this isn't the only reason I've tucked away for liking Georgia without even meeting her yet. Knowing her family, hearing her testimony, glimpsing her love for others without reserve and without judgement are all reasons that add to my feeling that when we finally do meet we will feel like sisters: because she has already proven that she is accepting and loving no matter a person's walk of life. Isn't that truly being like Christ?



Next we need to purchase The Court Jester, eh?

The Picture that Captures Georgia

I think that the picture that captures Georgia the best is the one of her skipping down the lane in Nauvoo. She's smiling, swinging her scriptures, waving a white handkerchief, wearing her best color (sky blue), and looks like she is happy and at peace. I love this picture. I smile every time I see it. It makes me remember how much she loved to be alive, loved to connect with her family, friends, and strangers, and was always looking for the good in the world. She brought a light to every room she walked into and I was always assured that I would be given a big, lingering hug, a "lean", or a flop. She was my dear little sister and is my dear angel sister. I love you George!