"I have an adorable new companion named Sister DeVol! She is fresh from the MTC, and full of greenie fire! I am so excited for this transfer, because I can see how excited she is to be here, and that's always what you want to see in a new missionary. I've already seen taht not only is she willing to listen to me, our members, and our mission leaders, but she takes to heart counsel from the spirit.
We are planning to sing to everyone we meet (because she has an incredible voice and because singing brings the spirit like almost anything else).
There were a lot of times this week when I saw the hand of the Lord guiding us. For example, we went to go and visit a Russian potential, and he wasn't home. We had some extra time before service at the Food bank, and so we knocked around. Sister DeVol pointed to a door that had a cat sitting by it and said "the cat must be a sign." Turns out the lady that was living there has been taught by missionaries in the past and was wondering what happened to them and why they stopped coming by. We were able to refer them to the local missionaries. It goes right along with our transfer theme to Remember the Forgotten because unfortunately, a lot of people always end up falling through the cracks with missionaries getting transferred.
This week when I was studying, there were a couple of verses that really stood out to me.
Mosiah 28:18
18 Now this account did cause the people of Mosiah to mourn exceedingly, yea, they were filled with sorrow; NEVERTHELESS it gave them much knowledge, in the which they did rejoice.
Those people had just read the history of the people from the Jaredite plates, and it made them really sad. It brought them sorrow, because of the iniquities and the destruction of the people. HOWEVER, more importantly, they did rejoice because of the knowledge that they received. There are a lot of sad stories in the Book of Mormon that we read every single day. Women and children were murdered, prophets were stones, people grew wicked and turned against God. All of those things bring us sorrow because we know that they truly happened. But the things that we learn from the scriptures are of much greater value. In hardships and sad stories, we learn about how to come to know God through our trials. I am always impressed by Alma and his people in Mosiah 24 where it says:
13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
14 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.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
They knew that the Lord had these things in store for them, even though they were hard. Therefore, they were still able to rejoice. Trials are important. They bring us knowledge. It's up to us whether or not we are going to recognize and be grateful for that knowledge that we have received.
the other scripture that really stood out to me was Alma 25:14-16
14 And they did also bury their weapons of war, according as their brethren had, and they began to be a righteous people; and they did walk in the ways of the Lord, and did observe to keep his commandments and his statutes.
15 Yea, and they did keep the law of Moses; for it was expedient that they should keep the law of Moses as yet, for it was not all fulfilled. But notwithstanding the law of Moses, they did look forward to the coming of Christ, considering that the law of Moses was a type of his coming, and believing that they must keep those outward performances until the time that he should be revealed unto them.
16 Now they did not suppose that salvation came by the law of Moses; but the law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ; and thus they did retain a hope through faith, unto eternal salvation, relying upon the spirit of prophecy, which spake of those things to come.
These people understood VERY well the difference between the Atonement and the Law of Moses. Commandments do not save us. It's only Jesus Christ who saves us. Our faith in him is how we accept his atonement. However, following the commandments is how we grow and develop our faith; therefore, it is VERY necessary that we are keeping the commandments of God if we are to be saved.
It was another fantastic week here in Washington, and I love my mission more than anything. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve and to learn the Russian language. I'm still not fluent, and I'm still not a perfect missionary; however, God helps me to do what I need to do to help His children. For as Elder Bruce R. McConkie said: " I rather suppose that he who sitteth upon the throne will choose his own ways to answer his children, and that they are numerous. Perfect prayer is addressed to the Father, in the name of the Son; and it is uttered by the power of the Holy Ghost; and it is answered in whatever way seems proper by him whose ear is attuned to the needs of his children."
Heavenly Father knows us and He loves us. I testify to that.
Love,
Sister Jenne"
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