This week I have done more knocking than I ever have on my mission combined. I was dreading it a little bit but I quickly got over that and went to work. I have really been working on being persistent and not letting people go with one rejection. It was hard for me at first because they think they really do not want to hear what Sister Nicholas and I have to say and that has always scared me. However this week I decided that it doesn't matter what they think they don't want. They need to hear what we have to say. So we taught. A lot of the time it was barely long enough to get a declaration in, but other times people would listen. Yesterday while we were out knocking, we found this woman named Arlene. She is such a sweet lady, we already love her! We had a great lesson with her that flowed so easily. It was more of a gospel conversation than us preaching at her, which was really cool for me. She accepted a Book of Mormon and set a return appointment! We will be seeing her next Sunday and we are praying so hard that she will be able to feel the spirit of the Book of Mormon and be able to recognize it as well.
We also got to teach a woman named Carmen while we were out knocking. We started to teach the restoration and she didn't seem too interested. Right after the first vision she asked us what our purpose was in coming to her door and explaining this to her. We told her that we invite others to come unto Christ. That through the Book of Mormon people can feel and know of His love and grow closer to the Savior. At that point she started to cry. She told us that she had been praying for answers to her prayers and she asked why Heavenly Father waits until she almost can't take any more to answer her prayers. We explained that everything he does for us is for our own good and that everything was done with perfect timing. We asked if there was a time we could come teach her more about her Heavenly Father's plan for her and she told us that she didn't live in the home we were at. She lives in Santa Barbara. She isn't in our stewardship, but I believe that she had to be in that home
so she could be introduced to the Book of Mormon at that time. She wouldn't let us refer her to the
other missionaries so we told her that if she wanted to have them come she could check out mormon.org and request them. I hope and pray she does so.
We had zone conference this week and as usual it was the best meeting! We focused on how to better use the Book of Mormon and how important it is. I think that has been one of my favorite things to learn about since coming on the mission. The day after zone conference we were able to use one of the ED-PEPS (ED-PEP is a role play that helps us practice what we are learning) and apply what we learned.
We have an investigator named Jess. He was a Jehovah's Witness but when his sister passed away from not being able to receive a blood transfusion, he decided there was something wrong and has been studying the bible closely since then. He is a former but I have a lot of faith that he is really close to finding out the truth of the Book of Mormon. He is weary about falling into a trap of
following a false prophet and in the bible it says that we can tell if a prophet is of God because his prophesies come to pass. Jess is very focused on this and wants Joseph Smith's prophesies to come to pass before he will believe. When we met with him on Wednesday however, we realized that all of
his concerns relate back to the Book of Mormon and if it is true or not. We explained to him that he can ask Heavenly Father if it is true and that if the Book of Mormon is true then Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that we have His church on the earth again today. We committed him to read 3 Nephi 11 and pray about to know if the Book of Mormon is true. We are also praying for him and pleading with Heavenly Father to help him recognize the spirit and the promptings he gets while he reads the Book of Mormon.
That is what's going on in my neck of the woods! "Here's what's happening in your neck of the woods!" Can anybody tell me what that famous lineIt kind of does have a Christian Valley feel to it. Much of Huntsville reminds me of that area...wooded, rolling hills and lots of water. is from? I bet my dad could.
We also got to teach a woman named Carmen while we were out knocking. We started to teach the restoration and she didn't seem too interested. Right after the first vision she asked us what our purpose was in coming to her door and explaining this to her. We told her that we invite others to come unto Christ. That through the Book of Mormon people can feel and know of His love and grow closer to the Savior. At that point she started to cry. She told us that she had been praying for answers to her prayers and she asked why Heavenly Father waits until she almost can't take any more to answer her prayers. We explained that everything he does for us is for our own good and that everything was done with perfect timing. We asked if there was a time we could come teach her more about her Heavenly Father's plan for her and she told us that she didn't live in the home we were at. She lives in Santa Barbara. She isn't in our stewardship, but I believe that she had to be in that home
so she could be introduced to the Book of Mormon at that time. She wouldn't let us refer her to the
other missionaries so we told her that if she wanted to have them come she could check out mormon.org and request them. I hope and pray she does so.
We had zone conference this week and as usual it was the best meeting! We focused on how to better use the Book of Mormon and how important it is. I think that has been one of my favorite things to learn about since coming on the mission. The day after zone conference we were able to use one of the ED-PEPS (ED-PEP is a role play that helps us practice what we are learning) and apply what we learned.
We have an investigator named Jess. He was a Jehovah's Witness but when his sister passed away from not being able to receive a blood transfusion, he decided there was something wrong and has been studying the bible closely since then. He is a former but I have a lot of faith that he is really close to finding out the truth of the Book of Mormon. He is weary about falling into a trap of
following a false prophet and in the bible it says that we can tell if a prophet is of God because his prophesies come to pass. Jess is very focused on this and wants Joseph Smith's prophesies to come to pass before he will believe. When we met with him on Wednesday however, we realized that all of
his concerns relate back to the Book of Mormon and if it is true or not. We explained to him that he can ask Heavenly Father if it is true and that if the Book of Mormon is true then Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that we have His church on the earth again today. We committed him to read 3 Nephi 11 and pray about to know if the Book of Mormon is true. We are also praying for him and pleading with Heavenly Father to help him recognize the spirit and the promptings he gets while he reads the Book of Mormon.
That is what's going on in my neck of the woods! "Here's what's happening in your neck of the woods!" Can anybody tell me what that famous lineIt kind of does have a Christian Valley feel to it. Much of Huntsville reminds me of that area...wooded, rolling hills and lots of water. is from? I bet my dad could.
Anyway on to more serious matters. The Atonement. Since being a missionary I have really been able to study the atonement and learn about how crucial it is in our conversion and our salvation.
What does the Atonement mean to you? What is the Atonement?
I don't understand much about it, but here is what I do know. Without a doubt
*It is ALL encompassing. Nobody can fall so far that they are out of it's reach.
*It changes hearts.
*We cannot be forgiven if we are not forgiving. Matthew 6:12, 17-18
*Anything that is unjust will be made right through the Atonement.
*The Atonement can be applied to anyone but we are opened to the enabling power as we follow The Savior's perfect example, try our hardest and do as the Savior would do.
Do you agree with this? I would hope so. I have been hearing stories of people at home who have not quite learned the concept of this incredible gift. YOU are putting it to waste if you cannot forgive others, if you chose not to apply it to yourself and others. It is there for a reason. If you have been
hurt, use the atonement to change your heart. See how it can help heal all wounds. As we forgive we
are lifted of a huge burden. When we don't forgive we carry around thousands of pounds of unnecessary baggage. There is this quote that I love that says, "Not forgiving is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die." I want you to know that this is the truth. When we don't forgive we are bound by these hard feelings. We feel like life can't move on.
hurt, use the atonement to change your heart. See how it can help heal all wounds. As we forgive we
are lifted of a huge burden. When we don't forgive we carry around thousands of pounds of unnecessary baggage. There is this quote that I love that says, "Not forgiving is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die." I want you to know that this is the truth. When we don't forgive we are bound by these hard feelings. We feel like life can't move on.
The Atonement is there for all. Who are we to say that we won't forgive? The atonement is there for everyone. Including ourselves. Use it.
Sister Skeeter
Addendum- Madi didn't have time to finish this so she sent me a letter with the rest of what she wanted to say. Here it is: I am so grateful for the positive examples of my family who have shown me how to be truly Christ-like. I can see how the atonement has healed them and the peace that it has brought to them. It has had such a huge impact on me and how I react to every situation. Because of the things I have gone through and seen, I have been able to love more fully and use the enabling
power of the Savior's sacrifice.
I can testify that as we use the atonement it can heal us and comfort us. No matter what the circumstance, no matter how offended we are, and no matter how much we hurt. He can ALWAYS help. He is always there to pick us up and get us back on our feet.
On the other side of things: the Savior's sacrifice is there for us to use and ask for forgiveness. He will never condemn you. If anything he is waiting with arms outstretched for you to come to Him. Don't ever feel like hope is lost. It is never too late. The adversary would love for you to feel like nothing can be done. If you feel that way then you won't repent and possibly fall further. Do not feel into that trap! The Savior begs us all to come unto Him. How will you use this gift that he has freely given? Use it to become like Him. Show your gratitude for what He has done. Don't let this eternal gift pass by. He loves you, I can promise you that as a representative of Jesus Christ.
Addendum- Madi didn't have time to finish this so she sent me a letter with the rest of what she wanted to say. Here it is: I am so grateful for the positive examples of my family who have shown me how to be truly Christ-like. I can see how the atonement has healed them and the peace that it has brought to them. It has had such a huge impact on me and how I react to every situation. Because of the things I have gone through and seen, I have been able to love more fully and use the enabling
power of the Savior's sacrifice.
I can testify that as we use the atonement it can heal us and comfort us. No matter what the circumstance, no matter how offended we are, and no matter how much we hurt. He can ALWAYS help. He is always there to pick us up and get us back on our feet.
On the other side of things: the Savior's sacrifice is there for us to use and ask for forgiveness. He will never condemn you. If anything he is waiting with arms outstretched for you to come to Him. Don't ever feel like hope is lost. It is never too late. The adversary would love for you to feel like nothing can be done. If you feel that way then you won't repent and possibly fall further. Do not feel into that trap! The Savior begs us all to come unto Him. How will you use this gift that he has freely given? Use it to become like Him. Show your gratitude for what He has done. Don't let this eternal gift pass by. He loves you, I can promise you that as a representative of Jesus Christ.
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