Life's goal and personal goals

I believe the church in Utah is different than other places.  Being a mormon is different and in some ways more difficult. We all learn the same thing at church, the gospel is the same everywhere you go, but each member interprets the doctrine and teachings differently.  Each person is working on different aspects of the gospel and choosing how to apply it to their life and I feel like that leads to a lot of judgment of other people's decisions and situations because they know what that person has been taught.  I feel like having so many members of the church here leads people to compare their decisions against what other members allow themselves to do instead of keeping their standard to what God thinks or what God has asked that we do.  It's other members of the church trying to get you to bend your standards when people outside the church would just respect them most of the time.
Are we never supposed to judge people? No.  We just aren't supposed to judge unrighteously.  At the same time I feel like people feel judged just by someone living differently than they are.  Just because I am living what I believe to be right for my life DOES NOT mean that I am judging everyone else that isn't living just like me.  I don't understand the HYPOCRISY of wanting someone to let you live your life how you want to and then feel judged by everyone else not living like you.  
"He who takes offense when no offense was intended is a fool." -President Brigham Young

There has been a lot of news recently in the church about women and the priesthood and I just want to put my testimony out there that President Thomas Monson is God's prophet on the earth.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is God's church and he is in charge of it.  Is is alright to ask honest questions? Yes.  But praying with real and honest intent means that you are willing to follow the answer that God gives you, trust him and accept His will and His timing.  The prophet is God's mouth piece so whether he gives counsel or commandment it would be in your best interest for you, your family and your happiness to follow Him, no matter what.

The whole purpose of this life is to BECOME LIKE GOD. Both the prophets counsel and God's commandments help us do that and they are there only to bring blessings and happiness into our lives because God loves each one of His children.  It is there to STRENGTHEN and PROTECT FAMILIES. So when a prophet of God tells us to dress and speak modestly, only wear one pair of earrings, not watch rated R movies or gamble etc... then those will by my goals regardless of what other people are doing, because those things will bring more happiness and blessings to my life.  Those things will bring me closer to and more like my Savior.  If you don't believe that they have ever asked us to do those things:

Modesty: Bikinis, super-thin knit and string suits, cutouts, and netting are especially immodest. It’s time to assert your fashion independence and choose what’s right for you, your figure, and your standards of modesty. -Judith Rasband 1983

Piercings: We—the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve—have taken the position, and I quote, that “the Church discourages tattoos. It also discourages the piercing of the body for other than medical purposes, although it takes no position on the minimal piercing of the ears by women for one pair of earrings.” -President Hinkley 2000

Media: We counsel you not to pollute your minds with such degrading matter, for the mind through which this filth passes is never the same afterwards. Don’t see R-rated movies or vulgar videos or participate in any entertainment that is immoral, suggestive, or pornographic. Don’t listen to music that is degrading. -President Ezra Taft Benson 1986
“Avoid anything that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Commit to keeping God’s standards.” -For the Strength of Youth

Gambling: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is opposed to gambling, including lotteries sponsored by governments. Church leaders have encouraged Church members to join with others in opposing the legalization and government sponsorship of any form of gambling.
Gambling is motivated by a desire to get something for nothing. This desire is spiritually destructive. It leads participants away from the Savior's teachings of love and service and toward the selfishness of the adversary. It undermines the virtues of work and thrift and the desire to give honest effort in all we do.
Those who participate in gambling soon discover the deception in the idea that they can give little or nothing and receive something of value in return. They find that they give up large amounts of money, their own honor, and the respect of family members and friends. Deceived and addicted, they often gamble with funds they should use for other purposes, such as meeting the basic needs of their families. Gamblers sometimes become so enslaved and so desperate to pay gambling debts that they turn to stealing, giving up their own good name.
"If you have never been involved in poker games or other forms of gambling, don’t start. If you are involved, then quit now while you can do so." -President Hinkley

Swearing: Profanity is disrespect or contempt for sacred things. It includes casual or irreverent use of the name of any member of the Godhead. It also includes any type of unclean or vulgar speech or behavior.

We should always use the names of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost with reverence and respect. Misusing their names is a sin. Profane, vulgar, or crude language or gestures, as well as immoral jokes, are offensive to the Lord and to others.

Foul language is both degrading and harmful to the spirit. We should not let others influence us to use foul language. Instead, we should use clean language that uplifts and edifies others, and we should choose friends who use good language. Setting an example will encourage those around us to use clean language.

     I am writing this NOT to judge people who choose to do these things. The greatest gift we have is agency to learn and grow as we each need to. Each person has a different best and nobody is better or needs repentance more than anybody else, but these are my standards that I choose to TRY and live and my reasons for it.  I am defending why I choose to do what I do. I have a testimony that the little things make a big difference and the only approval I am seeking is from my Heavenly Father. Living the gospel is hard and we will all make mistakes.  I know the Atonement can make anything right in our lives and change hearts and habits.  The gospel is true and the promised blessings are real.  Living it makes me HAPPY. I am trying harder and harder every day to not just avoid "bad" things, but also to fill my life with good things.  From the time I turned 12 until I got married I read my scriptures and wrote in my journal every day.  Well this is me making the goal to read my scriptures every day again.  I want that Spirit in my life as much as possible. Maybe since I am writing it down I will hold myself to it!  Because I love God I will always TRY to keep his commandments.  My testimony of the truth is the most important possession I have and it will always come first in my life.