March 17, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been awesome!  We taught 21 lessons (we tried so hard for 22 so we could sing the Taylor Swift song, but it didn't happen).  Next week we will get 22 though!  We found 4 new investigators because the weather has been awesome, and we've been riding bikes like crazy, and we've been talking to millions of people! 

Yolanda was probably my favorite lesson this week.  We watched the Restoration DVD with her and answered all the questions she had.  We gave her a chapter to read from the Book of Mormon and then asked if she would be willing to read it.  She said yes!  Then we asked if she would pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true.  She said yes!  Then we asked her, "When you know the Book of Mormon is true will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone who holds the Priesthood authority?".  SHE SAID YES!!!!  We are meeting with her again this week!

 This Thursday we also celebrated the 172nd birthday of the Relief Society.  We all got together and had some food and listened to Sister T speak.  She is the Temple President's wife and she encouraged everyone to go to the temple.  She said for the Redland's temple to always be filled to capacity each temple recommend holder needs to do 27 ordinances per year.  Now those numbers aren't the same for everyone's temple district, but the point is we can all go to the temple more.  It was a great talk.  She talked about the scripture 1 Nephi 3:7 and said she knows the Lord will give us no commandment unless He prepares a way for us to do it.  Going to the temple is a commandment so the Lord will prepare a way for us to do it.

 

We also had the wonderful opportunity to listen to Neil L. Andersen (a member of the quorum of the 12 apostles), Anthony D. Perkins (a member of the seventy), and Douglass Highham (a member of the seventy) in Rancho Cucamonga on the 15th.  I also got to shake all of their hands!!  They all talked about the enabling power of the Atonement along with other things.  I'll type some of the quotes that I really liked.

 "We reserve some of the best missionaries to serve in the United States because this is the bread basket of the church.  If it stops here then we are in trouble.  To keep up with the growth of the church in Africa, we need to help the church grow here." - Andersen 

 

"50% of the members of the church know the church is true when they see the full-time missionaries" - Highham

 

"Christ didn't have to go tracting because people saw His countenance and wanted to know more about Him.  We need to have a countenance like that.  Strive for those Christ like attributes." - Perkins

"Don't judge yourself based on other people you know because your life isn't over yet.  We have a long way to go.  The Lord doesn't compare.) - Andersen

"The enabling and strengthening power of the Atonement helps us to be something tomorrow that we aren't today" - David A. Bednar (quoted by Andersen)

"Be patient with yourself, but also push yourself" - Andersen

Neil L. Andersen also challenged us to talk to everyone and if we don't know what to talk about, talk about Jesus Christ because we represent Him. 

I know that Jesus Christ came to this earth and died for me and for you.  His Father (our Father) willingly allowed His son to suffer so He could see you and me again.  It wasn't easy for either one of them, but it needed to happen.  I often think about that as a missionary.  I am away from my parents and it's hard for them and it's hard for me, but it needs to happen.  I am sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.  I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer.  I know that He lives.  I know that because of Him I can live again.  It is through Him that we can return to live in our Father's presence.  It is ONLY through Him (Helaman 5:9) that it is possible because we "have all sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).  I know this, but others do not.  That is why I am here.  I'm here to pay it forward.

Love,

Sister Moon 
 
The pictures are of the lovely sunset, service project, and chocolate chip ice cream root beer floats...