Too Much

by Kirsten Andersen

I was weighed down on the outside. But I was weighed down on the inside, too.

I used to be the type of girl that wore 10 different rings on each hand, 15 or more gold and silver necklaces around my neck, and twice as many bracelets around my wrists and ankles.

My makeup was just as heavily caked on as my jewelry, and my layers of black and white clothing piled up as well.

I was not only weighed down on the outside, but on the inside as well. I was constantly depressed, and I felt down on myself for no reason.

I had been reading the Book of Mormon for some time, but as I kept piling on the jewelry, makeup, and clothing a passage from Isaiah in 2 Nephi kept running through my mind:

“In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments, and cauls, and round tires like the moon;

“The chains and the bracelets, and the mufflers;

“The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the ear-rings;

“The rings, and nose jewels;

“The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping-pins” (2 Ne. 13:18–22).

It goes on to say that even the daughters of Zion will be bald, and smell, and wear sackcloth instead of fine clothing.

I decided that if it might all be taken away eventually, why not try to go without it now? So little bit by little bit, more and more jewelry came off each day. I turned to more natural-looking makeup and simplified my clothing.

As the weight from my accessories on the outside came off, so did the weight on the inside. My spirit seemed to be coming uncovered and letting my personality and love show through. I had not felt so happy inside since before I can remember. My friends even commented that I was a lot more fun to be with lately.

I found myself to be much more compatible. I could hardly believe the feeling of happiness and love that seemed to encircle me.

I am so thankful for those few verses. They helped me get rid of the burdening “weight” that was inside of me and let my spirits soar higher than they ever had before.

Photography by Peggy Jellinghausen