The Infinite Atonement

Sisters!

What a great day today was!  We were blessed with awesome talks and stories in Sacrament and then fed and taught well as always in Relief Society!

This month has been so great with all the talking of Christ.  It reminds me of the Scripture, “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” 2 Nephi 25:26

Suzann gave us such a visual and heart felt lesson that really turned our thoughts to why WE NEED the Savior and His Atonement. She taught us from the talk by Elder Oaks, “He Lives All Glory to His Name”

“There is an imperative need for each of us to strengthen our understanding of the significance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ so that it will become an unshakable foundation upon which to build our lives. As the world becomes more devoid of foundational standards and as honor, virtue, and purity are increasingly cast aside in the pursuit of appetite, our understanding of and faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ will provide strength and capacity needed for a successful life. It will also bring confidence in times of trial and peace in moments of turmoil.”

I am so thankful to be reminded of my need for the Atonement.  I use it every day, sometimes without even realizing it.  I use it to NOT get offended, I use it to DO HARD THINGS, I use it to make it through dark hours, I use it to repent of my short comings.  It is all encompassing.  I have felt the strength that Jesus Christ provides at the very moment when I thought I might be able to make anymore, he comes through.  At times when I had so much heartbreak, he has brought peace.  At times when I felt like a no good person, a sinner, he has brought forgiveness.  At times when I have felt no one cared the heavy burden I was carrying, He has brought comfort and relief.

One of the quotes that I turn to and think about a lot when I have NEED of the Savior is by Sheri Dew.  She taught, “Jesus Christ is not our last chance, He is our ONLY chance.  He will show us the way because He IS the way!”

Wow, do we EVER need the Savior.  Every hour, every minute, every second!  I am thankful for his Atonement.  I know that he lives and loves us all.  I know that through him and his part of the plan that I can be forgiven, healed and strengthened through this mortal life.  What a blessing that we know this!  I enclosed the song that Suzann shared with us so you can feel that spirit again.  How I love music in lessons, it brings EVERYTHING home!

Love you all!  See you at finish it night on Tuesday!

Meg

Come To Jesus

This week I thought I would share with you a POWERFUL video that helps us keep the thoughts of the Savior more close in our minds this week. I am so thankful for the Atonement which I lean on daily for peace and reassurance in my life.  We are blessed that not only does it cover our OWN sins that it also covers the times we have been sinned against.   May you be able to forgive or make something right in your lives this week.

I would ALSO feel horrible if I didn't give a shout out to all the "FATHER'S" out there who have children of their own, but also those who may help raise those that come in different ways into their lives.  I am the recipient of MUCH love by many Father's in my life!  I have been blessed by their love and their support of me!

Stay cool in this heat!  Love Meg 

Jesus Christ

Sisters,

What a great fast Sunday we had today.  I was touched by testimony and the teachings of the Savior.  It put me in such a great restful mood for my Sunday nap! Hahaha

Today we had an awesome lesson by our darling Michelle Hansen on The Life of the Savior.  It is always so hard to fit so much into such little time and she did it so well. Some of the highlights that we talked about today

· ·         Jesus is the ONLY on earth to be born of a mortal Mother and an immortal Father. This is why he is called The Only Begotten Son. From His Father he inherited divine powers and from His Mother he inherited mortality and was subject to hunger, thirst, fatigue, pain and death.

·         NO ONE could take the Savior’s life from Him unless HE willed it.  He had power to lay it down and power to take up His body again after dying.

·         Jesus taught people much older than them truths and they were astonished at his teachings for he was only a child of 12yrs of age.  When Mary and Joseph questioned him he answered, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:48-49)

·         If we love God, we will trust and obey Him, as Jesus did.  If we love others, we will help them meet their physical and spiritual needs. Jesus spent his life in the service of others.

As I have mentioned before I love that this year is about going back to the basics.  I think it is so important to remember the simple truths of the gospel so that when we are called upon by naysayers we can answer with our testimonies in such a way that they too will be astonished. 

I served my mission in Columbus Ohio.  It is as close to a bible belt as I have ever experienced in my lifetime. 

I was there during the whole process of the temple being built .  Because of the temple coming to Ohio there was A LOT of opposition.  The thing that interested me about the opposition was that many claimed we didn’t believe in the very person our church was named after.  On numerous occasions we were given media referrals (when someone orders the Lamb Of God off a commercial) to which when we arrived to deliver the video we were verbally abused and attacked by an Anti Mormon (who ordered it just to bash with us) on the other side of the door.

One given day we had a referral that we were coming to deliver and were welcomed into the house of what seemed to be a very nice couple’s home.  They opened their door to us and welcomed us in.  Of course as missionaries we were thrilled about this kind of reception.  I was training a new missionary and thought this is a great opportunity to let her take the lead.  I gave her the look and she pulled the video out of her bag and asked them if they had time in which we could watch the video together.  At this time the seemingly kind couple snapped into action and informed us of how wrong we were, how we worshiped Joseph Smith and we weren’t Christian.  They identified themselves as Pastor of the local congregation and wanted to know how we felt good about ourselves to go around LYING to everyone each day.  I could feel the spirit of contention mounting and my companion started to cry.  I rose to my feet and started to excuse ourselves from the home, knowing that no teaching could be done in that kind of hostile environment.

As we approached the patio stairs to leave I had a distinct impression that I needed to ask them if we could leave them with a song.  I walked down another stair and it came to me again.  I was so shocked by this impression cause it was never something I had done before in all 14 months of my mission thus far.    I forced the words out of my mouth and said, “Pastor before we leave could we please leave you with a song?”  He was shocked by my question and said something along the lines like “okay?!”

I looked at my companion and the shocked look in her eyes and opened my mouth and began…

I believe in Christ; he is my King!
With all my heart to him I’ll sing;
I’ll raise my voice in praise and joy,
In grand amens my tongue employ.
I believe in Christ; he is God’s Son.
On earth to dwell his soul did come.
He healed the sick; the dead he raised.
Good works were his; his name be praised.

My companion Sister Miller joined me for the rest of the song.

 I believe in Christ; oh blessed name!
As Mary’s Son he came to reign
’Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,
To save them from the woes of sin.
I believe in Christ, who marked the path,
Who did gain all his Father hath,
Who said to men: “Come, follow me,
That ye, my friends, with God may be.”

I believe in Christ—my Lord, my God!
My feet he plants on gospel sod.
I’ll worship him with all my might;
He is the source of truth and light.
I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.
From Satan’s grasp he sets me free,
And I shall live with joy and love
In his eternal courts above.

I believe in Christ; he stands supreme!
From him I’ll gain my fondest dream;
And while I strive through grief and pain,
His voice is heard: “Ye shall obtain.”
I believe in Christ; so come what may,
With him I’ll stand in that great day
When on this earth he comes again
To rule among the sons of men.

At the conclusion of the song both my companion and I, Pastor and his wife had tears rolling down our faces. The Pastor than asked if we would pray with them and he offered it.  In that prayer I don’t remember every word but I do remember him thanking God that we corrected his impression of us and that we really were who we claimed to be as his representatives and blessed us to have success at proclaiming his word.

I wish I could report that we ever saw him again, or that he wanted to learn more about what he felt that day, but I can’t.  What I can report is that I knew that HE KNEW that WE BELIEVED in Christ and his ministry and that WE BELIEVED that His loved conquered any bad feelings or contentions that were felt that day.  And regardless of our different denominations and backgrounds we were both able to worship through song together.

Sisters, the love of the Lord does conquer any challenge, any task, any obstacles that we may be facing.  It can be the VERY THING that heals wounds that have been created in family relationships, mends the broken hearts that are caused through sin, and even understand depths of sorrow that no other person in our lives can comprehend. I know that when we turn to the scriptures, the temple, prayer and fasting that WE WILL FIND HIM THERE to comfort and guide us.

“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

–John 4:14-

On a Spiritual High from Stake Conference? I am!

Dearest Sisters,

I have SOO much on my mind after our AWESOME Stake Conference I don’t know how to put the thoughts into words!  We were WELL FED!  The first thing I want to express is my LOVE for the Stake RS Sisters that were released today.  I have only been here 6 short months, but in that time I have learned to love Sister Briggs and her presidency.  They are a delight and a BRIGHT shinning example as the beacon of light to the world we all should be!  We love them because they first loved us.  They are surely going to missed.

We learned such great things today from Gong back to the Basics for protection from the Satan, to being a member missionary.  Temples and missionary work being preached on fertile land to the paths that we chose and how they color our existence. And then our dear Stake President taught us that sometimes we need to get off the FAST TRACK and stop and smell the roses, before me miss out on things in life that could teach simple lessons or be memory building moments for our families.

I am going to give you some bullets of the notes I got to take.  Unfortunately by the end of Brother Chapman’s thoughts I was fully immersed in kids and wasn’t able to note take anymore.. but for those of you that weren’t able to make it.. you will get the just of what I learned..

President Bean: Would I do this if the Savior stood beside me?

• ·         Daily Prayer will provide us with protection
• ·         Don’t do things that will cause you to JAM THE CHANNELS of communication (BOYD K PACKER TALK)
• ·         An easy way to protect our family and homes from things of the world is to ask our selves: “Would I be doing this if the Savior stood beside me?
• ·         Go back to the BASICS… when we do even just the basics he PROMISED that we will be protected in our lives.

This video goes PERFECTLY with all the talks today but especially this one.. It would be AWESOME to show your family for FHE.. one of my ALL TIME favorite songs!

Brother Wade Whiting: That’s what I LOVE about my church!

• ·         Be a voice of  WARNING to those around you… EXAMPLE is the most powerful voice!
• ·         “Let your life be the lesson that teaches all others” Elder Ballard
• ·         Most converts don’t join because of what the know.  They join because of what they feel, see or like in it’s members- Elder Holland
• ·         If they TRUST the messenger, they TRUST the message!

·         1 NEPHI 8:10 “And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.” If they are attracted to the FRUITS then they will want to see the ROOTS from which the fruit came.

·         That’s what I love about my church! (Talked about a sister in the stake that brought bread to her co workers.  They asked, “how did you learn to bake such AMAZING bread!  She used the token phrase, That’s what I love about my church, it teaches us how to do many things like baking bread!)

·         Let the SPIRIT fill in the blanks!

Sister Briggs: Sister’s you are a powerful source

 Sister Briggs in her farewell testimony wanted all the sisters to know that you ARE A POWERFUL SOURCE!  She talked about how she is living PROOG of the missionary program as a teen all her family converted.  She wanted parents to know that MIRACLES happen with wayward children.

President Chapman:

• ·         What path would you have chosen? (He gave specific examples from his life and others… a choice between BETTER and BEST!)
• ·         Acts: The Savior went about doing good.
• ·         Press Forward with steadfastness in Christ.
• ·         We were sent here not ONLY to do the small things!
• ·         The stakes are TOO high to take the path of least resistance.

·         Mosiah 24:14 Doctrine of Burdens:

“And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.”

• ·         We are never alone.  When we call out to the Lord in prayer, he will come and help us get through those afflictions!

Oh Sisters!  How we need each other in this life!  How we need to learn, comfort and be there to help each other through these times of much heart break and trial.  Please remember the main lessons we learned today

1. 1.       If the Savior stood beside me, how would I act in this situation.
2. 2.       That’s what I love about my church…
3. 3.       What path would you have chosen

I know when we slow down, and think of all the PEOPLE instead of the TASKS in our life, that we will receive direction and inspiration to bless the lives of others.  One of my investigators on my mission gave me 2 poems that I keep tucked in my scriptures and refer to quite often. They really help me remember the BASICS and thought I would share them with you all tonight! 

Have a GREAT WEEK!  I miss seeing all your gorgeous, radiant and loving faces!  It has been 3 weeks for me since I have been with you!  Can’t wait till next Sunday! 

Wish me luck, I start with my new family of NEWBORN TWINS at 7am!  Thank you Vaughan’s for the referral!

Love, Meg

No Time, Too Much To Do

I knelt to pray but not for long,

I had too much to do.

I had to hurry and get to work

For bills would soon be due.

So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,

And jumped up off my knees.

My Christian duty was now done

My soul could rest at ease.....

All day long I had no time

To spread a word of cheer.

No time to speak of Christ to friends,

They'd laugh at me I'd fear.

No time, no time, too much to do,

That was my constant cry,

No time to give to souls in need

But at last twas time to die.

Then before the Lord was I

I came and stood with downcast eyes.

For in His hands GOD held a book;

It was the "Book Of Life"

GOD looked into His book and said

"Your name I cannot find.

I once was going to write it down...

But never found the time"

Little things in Life that mean a lot

Too often we don't realize
What we have, until it is gone.
Too often we wait too late to say,
"I'm sorry - I was wrong."

Sometimes it seems we hurt the ones
Who're dearest to our hearts,
And allow the little foolish things
To tear our lives apart.

We let the unimportant things
Clutter up our minds,
And then it's often far too late
To see what made us blind.

So be sure that you let people know
How much they mean to you,
Take time to say those special words
Before your time is through.

Be sure that you appreciate
Everything you've got,
And be thankful for the little things
In life that mean a lot!

Scripture Power

The lesson today was taught by our dear Diane Betzner.  She taught lesson #10 on The Scriptures as well as used some great points in recent conference talks.  It was interesting that the thing that kept playing again and again in my mind was THE YOUTH!  Granted, I was an EFY coordinator for 5 years and so the youth and the teachings of the youth are always forefront in my mind, but through this lesson my mind was FLOODED with memories of the stories of and testimony that I heard the youth bear while working with them in this capacity.

I remember many times throughout the summer being reminded of the story when Jesus at 14 went and started teaching in the synagogue.  He was expounding scripture with men that were much older and felt like they were much wiser than He, yet He taught them.  Many times with the youth, they were my teachers.  They had a profound sense of doctrine and scripture and would freely share in that safe place that EFY creates for them.  Other’s were scripturally illiterate and would SOAK IN the teaching of their peers.   They would sit at their feet and take in word for word of what they were saying and through the week I saw them learning from the example of the GIANTS around them, and applying it in their own form of Scripture Study.

The one thing that stood out to me in the testimony meetings of this program was that most of the POWERFUL testimonies, the one’s that were their own not their parents were born about how they had been in seminary X amount of years and that they listened but when their family had taken them to such and such church history site (Nauvoo, Kirtland, Palmyra,etc) or that they had just participated in a Trek for their Stake and  all of the sudden it clicked and they got it!  They would stand there and powerfully testify that THEY KNEW that what is spoken of took place.  They felt it!  That the scriptures are true!  That the things taught in them are for us, and that they want to live up to the gospel standard.

I know that many of you are trying to get that same feeling from your youth!  You are praying for that light to come on, for that testimony to shout out!  You hold family scripture study, family prayer, family home evening.  You make sure they participate in their church activities and scouting programs.  I know that there is a struggle sometimes but you still encourage, teach and testify!  I want you to know that it IS making a difference!!  I can’t tell how many of their testimonies were how much they loved their Mom’s or loved their Dad’s and felt bad that they didn’t show it.  Or how through family scripture study they felt the spirit.  They may not be telling you, but THEY ARE LISTENING!

I was listening to a devotional the other morning and I wish I could remember who was speaking but one thing that stood out to me was, Why would we do scripture study at night when we are safely tucked into our beds and safe from the dangers of the world?  This speaker (BYU TV) said we NEED THAT POWER in the day!  When the temptations are being thrown at us!  We need that power that we receive through scripture study to combat the wills of Satan and make it through the pressure of peers.  It really struck me. I knew for me I needed to put that into action! Since that time, I have been trying to make an EXTRA effort for DAYTIME scripture study, making it the FIRST thing I do instead of the last and it has helped my outlook, my attitude and my choices already. I love that time of my day where I can be fed through the words of the prophets both anciently and modern.

I was sharing with my visiting teachers the other day of a great example I had on teaching your children to love the scriptures and thought that I would close with this to you today.  I think you are all fairly familiar with the family bond I have with the Whiting Family in the ward.  I grew up in Wade’s families ward and have been like family with them for the past 20 yrs.  I have spend oodles times with each family in their different homes, helping out with their different families.  Wade’s Sister Jolyn’s husband was always in charge of the bedtime routine.  That was when he would get his “quality” time with his kids. They did have family scripture study at a separate time but when he put the kids to bed, he would lay there with them and expound scripture stories and have them so intrigued it would open up all kinds of discussions.  I have never told him this but when he went up to the oldest child’s room (he was 6-8 at the time) I would follow shortly behind and lay on the floor outside his room and listen to the scripture stories that he told.  I was drawn into them too!  I loved hearing about Ammon and Nephi.  Lehi and Helaman.  He made them real to even me, the adult!  He made me want to be courageous and steadfast in  my choices.  Why do I tell you this? Because there is NEVER a wrong time to expound the scriptures to your children.  They are listening.  When you open up their understanding they are more likely to search for more on their own time.  It is never too late or to early to start!

I know that this topic can sometimes really overwhelm us and make us feel like we can’t do everything.  I too, even without kids, feel that way at times. But one thing I do know that if we start and just do it, it gets easier and easier and the understanding that we need comes stronger and purer.  Thank you Diane for helping me remember the times when I heard such pure testimony, remember the things I felt and be even more committed to get my mornings started off right by putting my armor on for the battle!

May you continue to be blessed in finding a balance for scripture study in your lives and homes!  I know that the promise in the intro to the Book of Mormon is from God and has a powerful influence for good in our lives and so I close with that,

“Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

Sister’s  you are true examples of women of faith who put your WHOLE HEART in teaching your children and helping them get closer to Christ.  Thank you for the example’s you are to me!  Have a GREAT week!

Meg

Celebrating Womanhood: Happy Mother's Day!

Sisters,

 HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!  I missed you today and was so sad that I didn’t get to tell you all that personally! It has been an exciting weekend! I have been in Utah and came to surprise my Mom. And surprise her I did!  I showed up in her ward today and boy was she surprised when she saw my name on the program as the speaker in Sacrament and as the conductor of the Youth Choir as well.  It was so neat to honor my Mom that way today.  Since I wasn’t in the lesson with you all today I thought I would send you a sneak peak at the talk that I gave.  I am honored to be a Woman and to be striving just like you everyday to be worthy of hat divine endowment! Have a great week!

In April Conference 2006 Sister Elaine Dalton shared a poem that her grandfather used to say and I have loved it and repeated it since.

You don’t have to tell how you live each day;

You don’t have to tell if you work or play;

A tried and true barometer stands in its place-

You don’t have to tell, it will show in your face,

If you live close to God and His infinite grace-

You won’t have to tell, it will show in your face!

As Women of the church we are blessed with this light in our countenance.  It comes to us when we keep the covenants that we made with our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ and you have made the choices which qualify for you to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost.  That light that comes to us is the Savior’s light.  It is the light of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  By the way you live the gospel, you reflect His light.  Your example will have a powerful effect for good on the earth

Sister Dalton continues, “Can one righteous woman change the world? The answer is a RESOUNDING YES! You have the Holy Ghost as your guide, and He “will show you all things…you should do” It is the daily consistent things that you do that will strengthen you to be a leader and an example—daily prayer, daily scripture study, daily obedience, daily service to others.  Are any of us perfect at this?  NO! But we still try and this TRYING makes us worthy of that light!

As we do these things we become more like him and His light shines through us.  And when other’s see that light, they want to be around it!

Do any of you like to play the find a Mormon is the most random places game?  I don’t know if I am alone in this quest, but I LOVE to people watch.  Especially on vacations!  And my most favorite thing to do is find the Mormons!  You know the people with that special light in their eyes!  I have found them in airports all over the US, in shopping centers outside of the typical Utah towns, on cruises you name it.  Now I am pretty friendly person and after observing that light and watching a few of their mannerisms revealed, I have dared to say are you LDS?  And 99% of the times I have asked which have probably numbered in the 20’s they have said YES and I have an instant friend and bond. 

One such instance happened to me in Puerto Rico.  I went with a bunch of my friends there.  One early morning we decided to take an adventure to the island of Culebra.  To do this you have to stand in line by 6am and get a ticket for a one hour boat ride that takes you there for the a day excursion and brings you back that evening.  As we were standing in line I noticed a group of girls with that “Mormon light” within them.  I mentioned to my friends that they were for sure Mormon and they teased me about my theory.  We continued to watch them.  Another girl joined their group and when I looked over at the new arrival I saw she was wearing a shirt that said Old Nauvoo. I laughed told the Spanish speaking member of the group to read the shirt and He rushed over to communicate with them in Spanish and let them know that we too were LDS.  We spent the whole day on the island with them and had a BLAST! All because a glance at their bright light radiating from them. 

The one thing that we can know for sure is that Satan is very opposed to that light that is within us!  He has DECLARED WAR on Motherhood or Womanhood in general!  Sheri Dew in a talk entitled, “Are We Not All Mothers?”  Talked about this very thing. She says, “He knows that those who rock the cradle can rock his earthly empire. And he KNOWS that without righteous Mothers loving and leading the next generation, the kingdom of God will fail.”

I connect with Sheri Dew and feel her light and her understanding of Motherhood without being a Mother herself.  She explains things in such a way that it excites my spirit!  One thing that I learned from this talk that I never have thought about before is she shares this thought, “When we understand the magnitude of motherhood, it becomes clear why prophets have been so protective of woman’s most sacred role.  While we tend to equate motherhood solely with maternity, in the Lord’s language, the word mother has layers of meaning. Of all words they could have chosen to define her role and her essence, both God the Father and Adam called Eve, “the mother of all living”—and they did so BEFORE she ever bore a child.  Like Eve, our motherhood began BEFORE we were born.  Just as worthy men were foreordained to hold the priesthood in mortality, righteous women were ENDOWED premortally with the privilege of Motherhood. Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly that.  It is the essence of who we are as women.”  

As that was not powerful enough to describe our roles of Motherhood President Hinckley declared, “Men have to have something given to them in mortality to make them Saviors of men, but not mothers, not women.  They were born with an inherent right, an inherent authority, to be saviors of human souls… and the regenerating force in the lives of God’s children.”

As we know, not all of us get to exercise the gift of Motherhood directly, that is in our own homes.  But the Father doesn’t take that away from us who fit in that category. We still have great opportunity to do so vicariously. We just simply have to find other ways. All around us are those who need to be love and led.

Nearly a century ago President Joseph F Smith said this to the Women of the Church,

““It is not for you to be LED by the women of the world; it is for you to LEAD the women of the world in EVERYTHING that is God-like, everything that is uplifting and... purifying to the Children of God.”

Sheri Dew makes this point,

“How will our young women learn to live as women of God unless they see what women of God look like, meaning what we wear, watch, and read; how we fill our time and our minds; how we face temptation and uncertainty; where we find true joy; and why modesty and feminity are hallmarks of a righteous woman? How will our young women learn to value women of God if we don’t show them the virtue of our virtues?”

Few of us will reach our potential without the nurturing of BOTH the mother who bore us and the Mother’s WHO BEAR WITH US!  Those Mother’s are in each of us.  I have been blessed with some of those adopted Mothers in my life who BEAR WITH ME and because of the sweet relationships I have with them it helps me TO KNOW that you don’t have to give birth to someone to LEAD them, to love them.  Infact, it is because I know they love me that I let them help lead me.  Their light is such a calming force in my life.

I wish that you could all know how blessed I was the day Our Father sent me into the arms of my own Mother.  When I was only 9 months old my parents got a divorce and my Grandfather moved my Brother and I along with all 11 of his own children from Marshalltown, Iowa to Provo, Utah.  Since that time my Mother raised us on her own with no help or support from my Dad at all.  My Mom is a true example of that light.  She has always been full of love, testimony and truth.  She has been my hero as long as I have known what a hero was.  I am thankful that I never had to question what side of the line my Mother was on.

Sheri Dew put it this way, “WE ARE THE LORD’S SECRET WEAPON!  Our influence and light comes from a divine endowment that has been in place from the beginning…  The world won’t tell you that, but the spirit will.”

Sisters, today is a special day of rejoicing in that endowment!  It isn’t a day to bring discouragement, frustration, or pity. It doesn’t matter whether we don’t have any kids, or we have 18 and counting we are ALL given that same endowment!  And it is up to us to use our light in ALL Ways to love and lead those, even each other, back to the one who blessed us with such a high honor!

Many of you have blessed me to live vicariously through your families and allowed me in small ways to love your children and to you I am so thankful.  I learn from you, I lean on you and I watch the magnificent job you do in bringing light to a world of darkness and confusion!

When you live close to God and his infinite grace-- You won’t have to tell, it will show in your face!  

That's what I LOVE about my church!

Sisters,

What a great day we had to learn, worship and feel the spirit together.  I absolutely loved the testimonies that were born and for the spirit that I felt exude from each of you.  Both those who shared experiences of Woman’s Conference and other’s who bore testimony of Sisterhood and the gospel of Jesus Christ, THANK YOU!

This week in Relief Society we had the privilege to have a combined meeting with the Priesthod as we were reminded how to be a member missionary’s . Sometimes we make it seem so much harder than it actually is.  Wade Whiting taught with such zeal for the gospel and the work that you couldn’t help but catch the fire! (Of course I am partial because he has been like family to me for 20 years now and I have always loved his contagious testimony!)

He gave us tools on how to open our mouths and just be us, not try to set up the situation perfectly. His teachings reminded me of lessons I learned as a missionary in Columbus Ohio.  They were so poignant to me that I still think about it with EVERY missionary type experience I have to this day!

Elder Kikuchi of the 70 came through my mission and met with us as missionaries to do some training and introduce a new tracking approach to us.  While he spoke he shared recent (as of 2000) statistics of the church with us.  He said that the church has found that on average it takes a non- member 7 experiences with hearing about our church to let the missionaries in their door.  Hearing about the church could be through just hearing about “mormons”, hearing a commercial or radio spot, seeing a pamphlet or book, having neighbors who are, having a friend who may be, being invited to an activity or class at church or in a members home etc. 

He challenged us that every time that we open our mouths and even just mention who we are, or what church we belong, we are puling off a number!  It might be that as missionaries we would knock on a door and Sally behind the door has heard about our church in 3 different ways and you might pull off that #4.  Or you may meet someone in the grocery store and get into a casual conversation with them and they have never seen nor heard about anything to do about our church and so #1 peels off.  But what about that time that you open your mouth to a neighbor and it is lucky #7 and they inquire and want to know more!

When he taught this to us it was an Ah ha moment for me!  I totally got it!  Why is it that we are so afraid to share something that we are so much apart of?!  Something that has blessed our lives and made us better people?! 

If we remember it as simple as “I will help get them one step closer to letting those missionaries in their door and pull off a number” how much easier than is it for us to share tidbits about the church. 

Wade offered us a great way to start into those conversations and I have personally used this time and time again and it works! It is not offensive and is a subtle way to share your feelings about the church with anyone from stranger to family. 

When having a conversation with someone about a particular topic, work in the words, “That is what I love about my church” as you talk about things that would relate to why we do what we do!  I promise you that it works!  It gets easier and easier the more you practice and you have more and more opportunities open up to you as you put it into practice.  It is as simple as that!

One thing that I like about my church is the close association that I have with all you women.  How great is it that we get to meet together often, that we have support in ways of visiting teachers, activities and great neighbors!  Thank you for being apart of my life.  I am a better person for knowing and associating with each of you, if only everyone in Gilbert was so blessed!

Have a great week!  Keep those lights shining before men!  I am going to Utah to surprise my Mom for Mother’s Day, but I will send you the announcements from Utah next week!  You are wonderful and are loved so much, don’t forget it!