The Formal Introduction

(that kinda sounds like a cool book title, doesn't it? or at least a chapter heading. If your confused, I guess that's the purpose of all this.)

Let me 'splain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up. There is a lot, but I won't sum up. My name is Matea Williams. I won't go into too much detail about myself. If you want to know you'll just have to figure it out, or just find some way to contact me (legally of course). This blog was set up as a requirement for an Introduction to Family History class, but previously as I have been searching the web, I discovered blogs to be a type of online journal. I titled the blog "writing the right" because I wanted the blog to express me, for how ever short a time. But later, as I started thinking of the things I could post on my blog, I decided that I would use the blog for other purposes besides the class. Hence all the introduction appurtenances. (Being an accessory or other item associated with a particular activity or style of living). I like words. Uncommon words (like appurtenances), written words (I would love to learn the art of calligraphy, and I love reading, and I want to be published some day soon), words in other languages (I'm currently learning french, tried my hand at Latin, loved it, want to continue, and speak Pig-Latin fluently and joyously), and the idea of the power behind words. Hence this blog's title. I want to write the correct words. I also want to have the right to write. I also know the right (being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) and I am not afraid to write it. (See, words are fun!) Hence my testimony in blog post one.
When I write, I write what I think is right. I don't really expect many people to be reading this, but if you do, and anything sounds odd to you, just know it is how I think, what I want to write and that's that. So hopefully no harm is done. If you like it, and happen to be a publisher, please email me and ask to hear/read more. I have a bunch of started stories that are dying to be read by someone other than their author.
Part of my interesting way of thinking comes in part from the books I've read. The Book of Mormon being, actually quite prevalent. The language is older, and I enjoy reading it. I currently just finished C.S. Lewis' The Horse and His Boy, a wonderfully well-told story written in an older fashion of writing by a perfectly amazing writer. I will probably be posting frequently about stories I finished, or are currently still finishing, or new story ideas, although I do ask that they not be copied, as I came up with them. I imagined them. I will refrain of doing so now. I have noodles on the stove. Don't ask me for my favorite book or author. I enjoy too many favorites to list. It's mostly fantasy, sci-fi stuff with little romance. I'm not big into romance in books.
I like handwriting and cool fonts (hence the sporadic ones on the blog). I also like the color purple, and green and orange and yellow are starting to grow greatly on me. I even like purple with pink on occasion. I have a tad too much blue, although it can be a very beautiful color at times.
I enjoy the outdoors, and hiking, and animals, and playing games, and snowy weather. Rain makes me want to curl up inside and read a great book. I like being active, but for much of the time I get lazy. Much of the food I like begins with the letter "P" (don't ask me why, I don't know), but I like a great many other foods as well. I love to listen to music. Musicals, movie soundtracks, and a couple of pop artists. Namely Owl City and Lenka. Not too much into '80's music, to the displeasure of my mom. I like singing, attempt to play the piano, and can play the oboe, although I haven't practiced it for quite a number of years. I am inclined to a quiet nature, although, I think very many thoughts. (Or perhaps because of that. Anyway, hence the long post). I don't have the most friends ever, but I throughly enjoy the ones that I have. I am not a very sappy person, so I probably won't be expressing my personal feelings very often, even on here. Well, enough of all that. I have to go figure out how to strain noodles with no strainer.

2.o Optional Research

Researching Family History Sites for my Introduction to Family History class.

The records in the catalogue at the Family History Center in Salt Lake City (and I guess in other places around the world too!) are being photographed digitally! Perhaps someday they will be availible online.

Right when I pull up the familyhistory.byu.edu site, I see the scrolling information. Seems like they have a lot of cool projects. The Immigrant ancestors looks cool. Volunteers, scholars, and researchers are using emigration registers to locate information about the birthplaces of immigrants to create a database of millions of immigrants. That would be so cool to volunteer for that project!
They have a link for script tutorials, offering guidance to deciphering manuscripts and other old documents printed in old typeface or written in old handwriting, in various languages. That will be great help when for indexing!
There's also the Nauvoo Community Project, identifying residents of Nauvoo, Illinois from 1839 to 1846. Family History Students at BYU are attempting to document each resident from their birth to their death. Kinda cool.

I think it's very interesting that many resources previously availible at Brigham Young University are now availible on FamilySearch.org, like "The Family History Archives" on BYU is now availible under "Family History Books" at fs.o. I guess it does make sense though, since fs.o is put out by the Church.

Family History is pretty fun! I'm excited to start finding my ancestors. But I don't want to just find them and do their temple work, I want to learn their stories, events that happened in their life. I want to know them. I guess I should keep my own journal, if I expect my anncestors to. Perhaps I'll try again.

CI.5: Beginning my Book of Remembrance

My Testimony:

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know it, I live it, I love it. I know that God speaks through prophets, and that He has not stop speaking. Thomas S. Monson is the current prophet. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that he translated the Book of Mormon, which is the word of God. The Book of Mormon was written for our day.
I know that the importance of families is an essential teaching in the Gospel, and that families can be together for ever. Sacred ordinances for deceased family members can be completed in the temple. Temples are the house of God here on earth. I know that my life has a purpose, and that my Heavenly Father knows who I am and loves me.
I know that repentance/the atonement is for everyone, and that Heavenly Father will forget my sins when I truly repent. I know that His Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins.
I will never check my religion at the door, I will remain steadfast and immovable in my testimony.
[In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen]

Life Goals:

I will be published.
I will be married in the temple.
I will have children (lots if if can help it!)
I will always be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
I will stay positive.