Crushed or Stolen iPhone X

Pretty sad day for me when I was singing in my car just driving down the road and realized... I did not have my phone on me... I knew right away that I likely left my phone on my car or something as I was grabbing my keys out of my backpack, and then got in and drove off. I immediately turned around (by then I had been driving for maybe 5 minutes) and I went right back to where I was parked on 300 East a couple blocks south of campus.

I asked a nice lady if I could use her phone, and tried to remember my husbands phone number... But, didn't have it memorized because I always just say, "Hey Siri, call Trevor." So I called my Mom and she looked on find my friends and found where she thought my phone was... (but it was actually just the last spot that her phone tracked mine before mine got crushed (most likely)). So about 20 minutes later I called my husband on my gmail app, and he had already made his way to BYU from Orem because I wasn't home yet and I told him I would be... Then when he went to find me on the Find My Friends app it just said that my location was not available. He told me how he had a very real moment thinking of what he might say at my funeral, and thought that I was kidnapped, and when I finally did call he thought it was my kidnapper calling him to let him know he had me. He was a bit relieved to find out it was just my phone and not me that was missing(Trevor).

We searched some more for my phone, and retraced my steps in my car. He almost left his car keys in my car when we parted ways... And that would have been bad, because he would have had no way to contact me. 

We both got home, and it was dark outside, he was trying to unlock the door to get into our basement apartment, and asked me if I could shine my light on the door, I reminded him, in a very bothered tone that I couldn't because I no longer have a phone to shine the light... 

I was nervous about how much of my things were backed up, and was relieved to find that all my pictures were backed up to my iCloud, and that my last backup was within 24 hours from when I'd lost it... I had been keeping track of what percent of the readings/ participations I was doing for this class on my iPhone's books app, and that is gone at least I think  it is... So I will have to re-think through the semester and hopefully give myself a fair grade, still hoping that maybe it will be on a books app on the iPhone, but it wasn't on the computer, which makes me think its gone. 

I still need to go through a lot of things and talk with an apple specialist to find out if all my voice recordings, journal entries, and other things on apps are there or not...

One thing I will say is I feel bad that I did not right away find away to contact my husband. I feel bad that my worries of finding my phone may have been greater than my worries of his response when I did not come home when I said I would be. 

I also, just want to say it is important that you know where all your data is backed up. It's a little scary to kind of hope that I have backed everything up, but still need to do more investigating to know whether or not it is there. 

This reminded me of when I was on my mission, and my companion downloaded pictures from the week to sent to her family off of my camera, and then they were all lost, I was so mad at her! I also remember being so extremely sad when I got off my mission, and my mission iPad was not backed up properly, and I lost everything on my iPad, which included so many pictures... I'm glad that I at least am learning to not get too worked up over things... Although I am still really bummed. 

EVERYONE JUST BACK UP YOUR THINGS, you never know when you will just do something kind of thoughtlessly that will be costly... Also... Memorize your spouses phone number if your married...

Just thinking through all the things that I used that one piece of media device for... I feel pretty anxious not having it on me, and not knowing where it is... It honestly has thrown me for a bit of a loop. I wouldn't say I am addicted to my phone, but definitely I was attached, and feel really off. 

-Kimberly

We Are Sons and Daughters of Heavenly Parents

This last week I have been impacted by media that the Lord designed to benefit his children. I have been particularly impacted by one message: We are Sons and Daughters of Heavenly Parents.

The topic this week for My SFL 200- Eternal Families class also taught by Dr. Coyne has been our Divine Nature as Sons and Daughters of Heavenly Father and Mother, and I wanted to share in 3 ways how I have especially felt this during this last week and gained a stronger testimony of this through the Lord's use of Media.

The first is attending the temple: I went to do an endowment session at the Provo Utah temple last Saturday. I tried especially hard to pay attention to all the words and the session in its entirety. I love that this is a place where we can come to understand God's plan for us and our divine destiny. It is neat to me that the Lord uses modern day media to help us understand our potential in his Holy House.

The second was on Tuesday. Many of us benefitted from President Nelson coming and teaching us 5 truths. I was one of those sitting outside the room main room, listening to his talk in the hallway and taking notes as he was projected on the TV screens. The first of those truths he taught was that we are, "Son's and Daughters of God." He continued to let us know what that means for us, and what our responsibilities are. It brings me great comfort to know that I have a purpose and that is to help myself and others become like God himself.


Lastly, I continued to gain a testimony of this throughout this past weekend when I started to listen to/read the talks/writings for my SFL 200 class. These included: Becoming Like God, LDS.org essay; The Eternal Family, Robert D. Hales; Our Identity and Destiny, Tad R. Callister; A Mother There - A Survey of Historical  Teachings about Mother in Heaven. As I read and listened to these talks I truly felt my divine potential. One talk that I listened to multiple times was Tad R. Callisters, which spoke of 5 witness that we have potential to become like God. 

As I have used the Lords righteous use of Media to understand my purpose, I have felt more strongly my worth. If I compare this to the times I've used media for maybe less worthy pursuits like watching the Bachelorette, this has been far far better. If we can just learn to use media for purposes that will help us and others come unto Christ then we can surely be instruments in the Lords hands.

- Kimberly

New Baby Boy and More!

One exciting event that happened Saturday 9.7.19 was my sister Holly gave birth to her second child! That day while my sister was in labor my Mom and I watched my sisters 2 year old - Talmage. When we went to the park to play, my Mom used her iphone to film him and I playing at the park. He then wanted to watch the video of us playing together. My husband also that day had cut down a tree, and sent us a video of the tree falling down. Talmage probably watched that video like 10-15 times initially, and then again I showed it to him lots in the car while my husband and I were driving with him just a bit before we went to the hospital to see the newborn. He asked to watch it again and again, and then when I put it away he was sad, but not for long. We then went to see precious baby newborn Bridger, and lots of pictures were taken which I had my sister Makena send me some. Then on our way out Talmgage pointed to the different pictues of baby's on the wall and said, "baby." When we got home he watched Moana and I watched lots of it too, I am sure he got much more media use that day than was probably good for him. I was nearby at my inlaws house when my Mom called and told me she needed me to take Talmage because my sister was about to deliver the baby, and I and my husband would need to take full responsibility of Talmage. I was grateful for my cell-phone so my Mom could just give me a quick call, as well as coordinate when I was to bring Talmage to the hospital to meet his new baby brother.

It has been great for family purposes for other reasons. When I went to bed already, and my husband had a message that I would need to read before I left out the door the next morning, he just texted it to me. My sister Aubrey sent an electronic invite via text to for her baby boys 1 year old birthday party, which we all went to. My husband and I used a navigation app to get us to her house without losing our way. My mom also, was able to let all of us in the family know that our cousins grandpa on the other side of the family passed away. Both mine and my husbands family use group messages to inform eachother about things, or in both there were funny videos sent of the family in the messages. This has helped me to stay connected with both mine and my husbands family. Love it!

This week I have used media for schoolwork! For this class, I used my phone to call and interview my sister-in-law about her media use with her 1 year old. I then used computer devices and word to write up and Learning Suite to submit my assignment. I have also messaged the TA Sarah Petersen for this class. I also used my cell phone to do lots of the readings that were assigned for this class.

I have been grateful for media in my Stats class as it has made it possible for me to take the full 15 credits I needed to take this semester and also fit all of my classes but one in on both Tuesdays and Thursdays so I can then find a job. I have loved watching the videos and doing the online assignments int this class. They are great.

I have used media for every one of my classes in some way or another.

I haven't gone completely electronic... I have read from one physical textbook this week, and my Book of Mormon. I also read a pamphlet about atheists that my husband was given by the atheist club at UVU.

For my ministering assignment I used the app Tools to call the sister I am assigned to minister to as well as to find the Compassionate Service Leaders phone number to give her a call back since she was the one who reached out to me to contact the girl I am assigned to minister to. I also used it to message the sister I am assigned to minister to's husband so I could try and coordinate a time to bring their family dinner, since they also just had a baby. I then used the texting app to text the sister I am assigned to minister with to coordinate as well.

I have been trying to use social media less this week... I don't know that I have gotten on a whole lot, but I have also not been keeping super mental note.

I did use my notes app to make a grocery list, and that was helpful! I use the MACU app all the time, the other day it came in handy to transfer money into my needs card when I went to a store and realized that there was no more money on it. Or I will check and just make sure I have money on it, or my fun money card too.

Here is lots of what I have done with media this last week, I'm sure there's more: billboards, media used in class presentations, etc. But I loved reflecting on the media I have used. It is a constant thing!

From the start of this school week through today I have had so many different types of media that I have used. Some tangible media that I have used or seen include: computer/ laptop, TV, Cell-phone, billboards, clubs outside campus giving away things (is that included as media?), projectors and screens. I have downloaded many of my schoolbooks onto my iphone's kindle or Deseret Bookshelf. I have read from my scriptures both physically, I just a bit ago was reading a little bit for Come Follow Me, online I have read conference talks online. I have used social media cites Facebook-Instagram. I have used Learning Suite, to look at my syllabus for this class and many other things for this and other classes. I have adjusted my class schedule through mybyu website. I have watched tennis a little on TV. I have listened to class lectures (Is this media?) I know their powerpoints likely are. I'm sure I have played music in my car at some point this week, and definitely played it while I was cleaning the other day. There have been online advertisements that have come up while I have been on the internet. Does online shopping count as media? I looked up recipes to make just the other day, and then went to the store to get those ingredients. I am using the internet and I think that is a form of media. Thinking through all the things I have done that potentially are media has made me realize just how much media there is out there and how often I use it. I used MapMyRun app just yesterday to track how many miles I have run (Is that media?). Right now as I type I am using media. I created a blog and now I am posting on it.

As I have reflected just now about all the media in my life, and this just being the past couple of days and I am sure this does not include all of it... I have realized just how much media is around and how much I really do use it. I do also still have questions about defining media. Does it include apps if I am not interacting with other people? Does a personal journal count if I am just keeping it for my use? I guess the scriptures counted and that may not have been written for anyone right now.

All this media has effected me for the most part, for the better. I have been able to read and study and this has helped me to grow. I enjoy knowing what people are doing with their lives when I go onto social media. I have one cute niece with VACTERL and I am always loving to watch the stories my brother posts with her in them. I am excited to make the recipe I found online. I loved being able to listen to a book on Bookshelf as I was on my run just yesterday.

Being more aware of media and how I use it though, is a good thing. I never want media to be a distraction in my life, but rather I want to be sure that I am using media to help me to grow. I am excited to see how this class helps me to do just that!