Sisters!
I hope this email finds you well and happy. I am sorry that I missed you today. Know that I really did miss you. Today’s lesson was taught by Kristal Burton. I didn’t get to hear her lesson but heard she was great! Her lesson was lesson 15, The Lords Covenant People.
I loved reading this and knowing that EACH OF US have that title. We have ALL been baptized and taken on those special covenants and what an honor it is that we each carry that title. In the lesson it says;
“Along with the blessings we receive as the Lord’s covenant people, we have great responsibilities. The Lord promised Abraham that through his descendants the gospel would be taken to all the earth. WE are fulfilling this responsibility though the full-time missionary program of the church and the missionary work done by the members. The opportunity to preach the gospel to all the world belongs ONLY to the Lord’s Church and HIS covenant people.”
I have felt so blessed since living in Arizona in many ways. Not only the wonderful friends and families I have come close to here in the ward but also the ample opportunities I have had with missionary experiences. I can not wait for the Gilbert temple to get done. I already have people waiting in line to go through the tour! The Lord has blessed me with some great people in my life that have a desire to know more about what I am about.
I had an interesting experience last month that I am going to try to explain to you over email. I tried out for the show “The Biggest Loser” in 2008. Through that experience I met some WONDERFUL people that I have continued facebook and phone conversations with for the past 2 years. We have become pretty close for people that had not previously known each other and do not live in the same area. One of those people, Josh, who I have been talking to for 2 years now, ended up moving to Arizona around the same time as I did and we didn’t even figure out we were living in the same state until recently.
I participated in a 7.5 mile urban race with him a few weeks ago and that experience opened GREAT opportunity for missionary work. Why you might ask? Well I am going to tell you! Haha
When Josh started spending more time with me training and working out he started to see that I was different than other girls he hangs out with. My language is different, my goals are different the things I do with free time is different. So he started going through my facebook and blog and found out that I am LDS. One night when we were finalizing things about the race by phone he said to me,
“ Well I will try really hard not to corrupt you when we spend time together!” I said, “Corrupt me? Were you planning too?!”
He then said,
“ Well I noticed yesterday on your facebook that you are LDS and so I know that you are a really good girl”
I said,
“ I am LDS. It sounds like you have met other LDS people in your life.”
He then said something that was jaw dropping to me. He told me that he was once baptized LDS! I fought through shock and asked him for more details on that. He agreed that the night of the race we would talk about it.
He kept up to his bargain and I was told the most tragic tale of someone who the gospel found him, he accepted. He JUMPED right into activity and responsibility in the church. Was working on mission papers and then was anti- mormon-ed 2 years after baptism by an previous member. Josh came back to the right sources (members of the church) for the answers to the questions he then had. His questions were ignored. They all told him that “all your questions will be answered in time and why don’t you just focus on getting on your mission right now”.
Because Josh’s questions (which by the way ALL have answers through scripture) weren’t answered he has spent the last 8 years out of the church, and from what I can tell pretty lonely and searching. Something very tragic and unnecessary being that answers could have been given and concerns over come.
I was so thankful that day to be one of the “Lord’s Covenant People” and have the spirit with me to know how to reply to what he was talking to me about. It felt so good to be in missionary mode again. It felt good that he knew I lived up to a certain standard and it felt good that Heavenly Father trusted me with starting the teaching process with his child who is wandering.
I have since had many spiritual discussions with Josh and I am still getting the bug into him to start working with the missionaries again. He said to me, “Why is it that is 20 minutes you could answer all the questions that I have had for 8 years!” I just replied that I didn’t know, but that they were always there.
Sisters, if we can just remember when we get in situations like this that there are answers in the scriptures. We are all the Lords’ covenant people and he wants ALL his children to have what we have, and will lead us to the elect. “for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts” (D&C 29:7). All we have to do is open our mouths. I know that is easier said then done, but the spirit that comes into your heart when that happens, is so beautiful, it is worth opening your mouth!
Have a great week! Let’s start praying for those missionary experiences! One thing that I love about my church is the sister’s that come with it!! I love you ladies!!
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