Kaity's Miracles

This is Kaity's mom and I have something wonderful to share with all who will listen. Today, Kaity left the Missionary Training Center and flew from Salt Lake City to New Jersey. She was allowed to call her family from the airport before she departed. I was blessed to speak with her for almost an hour. Then I got worried she would not have time to call the rest of her family, but the Lord provided by delaying her flight for over 1 1/2 hours!

When we spoke she told me an amazing story that I know she would love to tell everyone, she just does not have time to put it in her email. Last Wednesday, only 5 days before she was to depart the MTC, her district was playing softball. She had a little mishap running to first base and hit the ground hard. She came out of it with a scraped up knee and shoulder and somes aches. But then, when she was playing outfield, one of the Elders told her to watch out because the ball would be coming her way when he was up to bat. So she geared up to catch it. It came flying her way alright, but hit the ground and rolled toward her. When she reached down with her glove to try to catch it, she missed and because she is a soccer player at heart, she instinctively stuck her foot out to stop it from continuing. "Smack!" came the super loud sound as it hit her ankle bone! Everyone on the field heard the sound and came running. She dropped to the ground in extreme pain, praying in her mind that it might NOT be broken since she was supposed to leave for her mission on Monday. The thought of not being able to leave on schedule hit her hard and she was not able to keep back the tears any longer. She was unable to walk on it and had to be carried in to the trainer. They checked it out thoroughly to make sure that it was not broken and it wasn't, but it was super bruised and painful. They gave her crutches to use and ice packs.

She returned to her room with her companion. She was trying to be strong, but when her companion innocently asked her, "What if you CAN'T leave on Monday?", she broke down. "Don't say that." she begged. The thought was more than she could bear. She cried in despair, but kept getting an overwhelming feeling that Father was trying to tell her, "Don't worry, Kaity. I have not even told you if you will leave on time or not, so do not worry about it." She decided to give it to the Lord and leave it in His hands.

That evening she went to class on crutches. One of the sisters passed her a note to ask if she was going to get a Priesthood blessing. She did intend to ask for one after class and she did. The Elder that was going to give her the blessing asked if she wanted a blessing of healing or a blessing of comfort and peace. Silly to say, but since she had just had a healing blessing the week before when she was so very sick with Bronchitis, she did not feel like she should ask to be healed again, so she told him she would like a blessing of comfort. As he began to give her a beautiful blessing of comfort and peace, in her mind she was totally struggling. She kept thinking to herself, " I just need to know if I will be healed in time to leave the MTC on Monday. That is what I really need to know. Why didn't I just ask for a healing blessing? I just really need to know if I will be able to leave!" Such a struggle within herself was so NOT like Kaity. She is normally very receptive to the Spirit and would quietly listen and accept the words of the blessing. But this time was different. It was quite a struggle and she felt guilty. She apologized in her mind, saying, "I know I have faith to be healed...I know my faith is strong, why am I struggling with this so much???"

Then she heard the Elder's words as he pronounced upon her that she would be healed....Her thoughts went to:" yes, I know I will be healed eventually, but will I be healed in time????" Then he said that she would be able to leave the MTC...and he paused. During the pause, her mind went crazy again, " Obviously I will be able to leave, EVENTUALLY, I can't live here forever...." And then the blessed words, "On Monday" came from his lips and she KNEW they were straight from the Lord, in answer to her burning question! And she broke down in tears! Father had heard her, and had answered her through his messenger, this young priesthood holder. Her companion heard the words and gave Kaity a hug and said, "see that! you WILL be able to leave on Monday!"

By Thursday morning she was able to walk on the ankle without the crutches. On Saturday she had to be medically cleared to be able to leave Monday. They made her run and jump and twist and do all sorts of things and she was able to complete them all, with no problem at all! She said, "Mom, it was truly a miracle."

I testify that it WAS truly a miracle. There is no way on the earth that it would have healed that quickly without the Lord's help. The lesson that Kaity learned is that she MUST trust in Heavenly Father. Her faith is strong, but trusting, instead of worrying, is an obstacle she must work to overcome. I know that there have been so many times that I have learned this lesson, over and over again. When I get in the midst of a trial, and I start to worry like crazy about how it will come out, the only way to peace is to turn it all over to the Lord. When I can trust Him, that no matter what the outcome may be, it will be for my very best benefit, and Father in Heaven knows that way better than I do, the peace that overcomes me when I let it go is indescribable. Kaity has reminded me of this. She wanted me to share it with all of you. Trust the Lord. He truly knows what is best for each of us. He has a plan for each one of us, and the rewards will be glorious. I testify of these things,in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Update from Mom

Kaity leaves the Missionary Training Center on Monday, October 25, 2010. She will arrive in New Jersey approximately 4pm. We do not have her address there yet, but mail can be sent to her at the mission home address:
Hermana Kaitlyn Word
New Jersey Morristown Mission
1719 Route 10, Ste 309
Parsippany, NJ 07054

We are excited to report that we will get to have a phone call from her before she flies out!!!!

Estoy Saliendo en LUNES!

Buenos Dias Mi Familia y Amigos!
How are you all? Hope life is treating you well! I can tell you missionary life is pretty awesome, so if things aren't so great, just go on a mission. :)
I wanted to take the time today and write a couple things that I don't ever want to forget about the MTC, things that I've learned here. I hope you're able to find application to them in your life as well. I promise if you read this with a prayer in your heart, you will.

1. The undescribable, absolutely undeniable strength of the Spirit I feel when sitting in a room full of hundreds of individuals, called by God and set apart as I am to be Representatives of our Savior Jesus Christ.
2. My absolutely wonderful companion, Hermana Rebekah Jarman, with her constant happy nature and her random "Te amo, mi companera" comments. They always make my day.
3. Sitting in the Celestial Room of the Provo temple, all of us dressed in white, taking in every ounce of peace and love that sacred room has to offer. The power of the knowledge that we will be together once again in the presence of our Father in Heaven. The Hermanas (Jarman, Batchkoff, Holland, and I) standing in our little "hug circle" at the end of each session there.
4. Kneeling in prayer with our District each night before going to our rooms. The power of unity that simple, yet profound act has brought to our little "family."
5. Singing each day before class began--the beauty of each word as it would leave our mouths and touch our hearts. The power and strength of the Spirit that accompanied our harmonies.
6. The difficulties that I experienced Every. Single. Day--and the pure joy I felt from turning it over to my Savior, from being given the ability to overcome those difficulties.
7. The LOVE that is within the hearts of each individual here. The unity in purpose that we all have. The desire to help others come to know their Savior that is ever so present in the way each missionary and teacher and Branch Presidency member lives their life.
8. Noticing the colors changing on the mountainside. Pointing it out to my companion day after day after day. The smile that would come on my face when I'd hear rain outside our window or see the illuminating light of lighting. Standing in line for sack breakfast so early in the morning that I could see Orion's Belt still in the sky.
9. Devotionals and Firesides and Large Group Meetings...the endless amount of spiritually edifying meetings. The pages and pages and pages of notes I have from each one of them.
10. The love and support of my dear family. The prayers and the letters and the packages of everything I could ever need. That has meant alot, you know.

I honestly feel like I could go on forever, but I don't have the time. I want you all to know that I love you very VERY much. If there's anything I hope you know, it's that you have a Father in Heaven who loves you. You have a Savior who has suffered so that you do not need to. You are not alone, don't you ever let yourself think that you are.
Stay strong. Turn to Him. Endure to the End.

Until next time,
Hermana Kaity Word

"Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge, where is the knowledge we have lost in understanding." - C.S. Lewis

PERSONAL NOTE FROM KAITY'S MOM

The blog entry this week is shorter than usual because Kaity spent most of her allotted time writing a personal email to the family. She did not want me to post that email, but I felt like you should all get to see the following information she gave us. It appears she has been very sick, to the doctor twice this week, even had to have a chest x-ray done. Her spirits are so good, considering what she has been through. It is a constant witness to me of the strength of her testimony. I am 100% certain that she is in Heavenly Father's hands, and he will take care of her. Her faith is soooo strong:

If you're wondering, I have bronchitis :) It's been an interesting little week. Really difficult to figure out what I need to be doing. My body needs to rest, but I also need not take too much time doing so because I'm on the Lord's errand. I was able to get a blessing Wednesday afternoon. Always a neat experience. I had asked Elder Clark in our District (he's our District Leader now). It turns out it was his first time ever giving a blessing. It meant an awful lot to me. I've continued to pray for strength and energy. I know it is through my faith that I'm able to be healed. It's absolutely incredible how much energy I DO have. You know how I am when I'm sick...I can't do anything...especially with bronchitis. BUT, this truly is the Lord's work and I truly am His Servant. It's amazing the miracles I've seen even just this week. I don't tell you this to worry you; I hope it allows you to see how wonderful the Lord really is. Know that I am in His hands. :)

10 mas dias aqui!

Yup, only 10 more days here! It's crazy how time flies, I'm not even kidding.
I've got 8 and a half minutes left, so I apologize but this one is going to be pretty short.
TRC experience last week: We taught the most wonderful investigator in the world. Her name was Blanca, and she was an Atheist. When I first found that out, I didn't really know what to think or how to go about teaching her...but my companion and I prayed and listened. We decided it would be best to testify much of the things we know to be true. We needed to help her have a spiritual experience while we were there. Hermano Rivera has told us how incredibly important it is to make sure we leave them with that--something they can always fall back on. THOSE were our goals. SO, we went in after the initial contact and testified that God lives; that he loves each and every one of us; that His Gospel brings us peace in our lives. She asked us way we were there, why we decided to serve missions. I was able to testify to her of the importance of the Gospel in my life, in the life on my family. As the lesson went on we talked about how the Gospel brings joy and happiness--asked if she felt those in her life and what things helped her to feel that way. She said she was, "Uh, happy" She loved her dog. Her family was good, but they didn't get along well. But she didn't know why she needed God in order for her to be happy if she was already happy. I told her of my parents and how they were happy before they joined the Church, but they've seen so much more joy IN it. I'd never shared that in a lesson, I didn't even know what to say or how to say it in Spanish--but, I did :) I shared scriptures we hadn't even plannedo n using...which would normally be alright in English becasue I could at least read the verse before and know wahat it was about...but I couldn't really in Espanol. It was truly a miracle. I'd been praying for help to remember scripture stories and what not and He helped me. After a while I just testified to Blanca. I told her I didn't know what she was going through but that she did and her Heavenly Father did as well, all she needed to do was pray and He would help her---pray with faith.
There's more, but time is up. :)
I love you all. I know this Gospel is true. I wouldn't be here if it wasnt. It brings me happiness and it can for you as well!
- Hermana Word

Conferencia General!

Hola Familia y Amigos!
I hope this week has been just as wonderful for you as it has been for me! Thanks again for all the words of encouragement, I don't know if you'll ever understand how much they mean to me. Question though...for anyone who wants to take on this challenge...Can you track down a friend of mine? Justine Trotter Banks is her name. I don't know if she's alive or what anymore. :) (Just kidding, I know she's alive). And tell her it would be awesome to just here if she's got any kids on the way and a house to put them in yet or not? Thanks :)
SO on to this week. Last Friday I was able to be apart of a super neat experience. Each week we teach an "investigator" at the TRC (I think I've told you this before), and each week we have a situation that we've planned for...and the investigator is given the same situation. Well, last Friday was our first lesson in Spanish. They were kind of short on investigators, but all was well. We went in to find out our investigator, Expedida Slade for the Dominican Republic, hadn't been given the same situation we had planned for...which was actually awesome. So we came and taught her about the Restoration (which we actually were prepared for). I asked her to read a scripture for us--Amos 3:7. As she read, she began to cry. I wasn't quite sure at the time why, but she stopped in the middle of the verse, looked at us and said (in Spanish) "I'm sorry, but I'm going to break character for a second. I left my ring and my lentes (glasses) at home." She went on to tell us that she cannot read without her glasses...like CANNOT read with out them. BUT, she was able to read that verse...and every other one we asked her to read after that. How incredible?!?!?! The Lord is great, isn't He? I just want to testify to you that He can help anyone to do anything, we just have to have faith. Have confidence in Him, have confidence in your Father in Heaven, show Them that you're willing to move your feet. Expedida could have easily told her she couldn't read because she didn't have her glasses, BUT she didn't. She took the scriptures and she read...and it was a powerful experience for us as well as for her. The Lord works miracles everyday, we just need to open our eyes!
Also, CONFERENCE!!!! How was General Conference for all of you? If you didn't watch all the sessions, I challenge you to do so. There is honestly nothing better to be doing with your time, promise. How often do you get to hear the words of the Lord spoken directly through His Prophet and Apostles for your well being?! Take advantage of it...even the Priesthood Session, Sisters...and the Relief Society Meeting, Brethren. It's up on LDS.org, go listen to it. :) AND, all the talks will be out in the Ensign next month.
It was so exciting to listen as a Missionary this time. I took it upon myself to write down only the thoughts I had during the talks. There's no need to write down the words, because they'll be in the Ensign to look at for years to come...but my THOUGHTS, my FEELINGS I will only ever remember because I chose to wrote them down. And let me tell you, there were quite a few. I lost feeling in a portion of my thumb for a day or two because I couldn't stop writing. It was kind of exciting :) BUT, I just want to share with you a couple things I learned from that as well. First of all, President Uchtdorf's talk on Slowing Down A Little Bit. I know it's easy for all of you to get caught up in the who's and when's and where's of life in the real world...I know because I was there once. We give ourselves a million things to do and not enough time to do them...and even then, are all those things helping us to come closer to our Father in Heaven? I'm not sure, that question is for you. But, I can also tell you that the same rings true for me as a Missionary. Everyday I feel like I have a million things to do and not enough time to do them. President Uchtdorf said "It's rather easy to be busy...but we unnecessarily complicate our lives...any viture taken to an extreme can become a vice." How true that is! I need to be sure not to let those virtures become vices. Especially as a Missionary, I need to search for those BEST things. I need to make sure I SIMPLY share the truths of the Gospel with those I am to teach. "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." I need to master the fundamentals and help others to do the same. I must not let anything become a "heartless chamber of isolation." This Gospel is SIMPLE. The Plan is SIMPLE. I just pray we might take the time to see that.
Also, one last thing. Did any of you notice as I did how many talks were on the Prophet? How many little bits and pieces were testimonies that we have a Prophet today? The Savior is coming again and we, as a people, need to be sustaining and TRULY following the Prophet before anything else is going to happen. If we can't do the little things like our visiting teaching or loving our family and friends, how are we going to be able to do the big things? I know that we have a Prophet on the earth today, and his name is Thomas S Monson. He IS the Lord's mouthpiece for His people. This is the Lord's Church. It is undeniably true. If you doubt my testimony, find out for yourself. If you doubt your Prophet, find out for yourself. I challenge each and every one of you to take a talk from Conference and find those things that testify of the truthfulness of this Gospel. Share them at Family Home Evening. Write them in your Journal. I don't know, do something. Your testimony grows when you share it. Trust me, I've come to know that more and more since I've been here.
I love this Gospel, I really do. Thank you Mommy and Daddy for raising me in it. Thank you for finding it so I didn't have to. Thank you for accepting it so that I could be born under the covenant. I love you both very much. And my siblings, Ashleigh and Lauren and David...I couldn't be more lucky to have you in my life. I want you to know that you've helped me in so many different ways, each and every one of you. SO, thank you. Stay strong. Go to the Temple. Help each other! I pray for you all the time. Know that you are WHY I am here!
Read your Scriptures, Say your Prayers, and Write in your Journals...always!
Hermana Kaitlyn Word

"Safety for the Soul"

HERE IS THE TALK THAT KAITY REFERRED TO IN HER EMAIL. I HAVE NOT YET FIGURED OUT HOW TO ATTACH THE VIDEO OF IT, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY COPY AND PASTE THE PRINTED TALK FOR ALL TO SEE. SORRY FOR MY LIMITATIONS. I WILL STILL TRY TO GET THAT DONE. MEANWHILE ENJOY READING IT.


Safety for the Soul
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles


I want it absolutely clear when I stand before the judgment bar of God that I declared to the world . . . that the Book of Mormon is true.

Prophecies regarding the last days often refer to large-scale calamities such as earthquakes or famines or floods. These in turn may be linked to widespread economic or political upheavals of one kind or another.

But there is one kind of latter-day destruction that has always sounded to me more personal than public, more individual than collective—a warning, perhaps more applicable inside the Church than outside it. The Savior warned that in the last days even those of the covenant, the very elect, could be deceived by the enemy of truth.1 If we think of this as a form of spiritual destruction, it may cast light on another latter-day prophecy. Think of the heart as the figurative center of our faith, the poetic location of our loyalties and our values; then consider Jesus’s declaration that in the last days “men’s hearts [shall fail] them.”2

The encouraging thing, of course, is that our Father in Heaven knows all of these latter-day dangers, these troubles of the heart and soul, and has given counsel and protections regarding them.

In light of that, it has always been significant to me that the Book of Mormon, one of the Lord’s powerful keystones3 in this counteroffensive against latter-day ills, begins with a great parable of life, an extended allegory of hope versus fear, of light versus darkness, of salvation versus destruction—an allegory of which Sister Ann M. Dibb spoke so movingly this morning.

In Lehi’s dream an already difficult journey gets more difficult when a mist of darkness arises, obscuring any view of the safe but narrow path his family and others are to follow. It is imperative to note that this mist of darkness descends on all the travelers—the faithful and the determined ones (the elect, we might even say) as well as the weaker and ungrounded ones. The principal point of the story is that the successful travelers resist all distractions, including the lure of forbidden paths and jeering taunts from the vain and proud who have taken those paths. The record says that the protected “did press their way forward, continually [and, I might add, tenaciously] holding fast” to a rod of iron that runs unfailingly along the course of the true path.4 However dark the night or the day, the rod marks the way of that solitary, redeeming trail.

“I beheld,” Nephi says later, “that the rod of iron . . . was the word of God, [leading] . . . to the tree of life; . . . a representation of the love of God.” Viewing this manifestation of God’s love, Nephi goes on to say:

“I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, . . . [who] went forth ministering unto the people. . . .

“ . . . And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, and with devils and unclean spirits; . . . and they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God; and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out.”5

Love. Healing. Help. Hope. The power of Christ to counter all troubles in all times—including the end of times. That is the safe harbor God wants for us in personal or public days of despair. That is the message with which the Book of Mormon begins, and that is the message with which it ends, calling all to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him.”6 That phrase—taken from Moroni’s final lines of testimony, written 1,000 years after Lehi’s vision—is a dying man’s testimony of the only true way.

May I refer to a modern “last days” testimony? When Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum started for Carthage to face what they knew would be an imminent martyrdom, Hyrum read these words to comfort the heart of his brother:

“Thou hast been faithful; wherefore . . . thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father.

“And now I, Moroni, bid farewell . . . until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ.”7

A few short verses from the 12th chapter of Ether in the Book of Mormon. Before closing the book, Hyrum turned down the corner of the page from which he had read, marking it as part of the everlasting testimony for which these two brothers were about to die. I hold in my hand that book, the very copy from which Hyrum read, the same corner of the page turned down, still visible. Later, when actually incarcerated in the jail, Joseph the Prophet turned to the guards who held him captive and bore a powerful testimony of the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon.8 Shortly thereafter pistol and ball would take the lives of these two testators.

As one of a thousand elements of my own testimony of the divinity of the Book of Mormon, I submit this as yet one more evidence of its truthfulness. In this their greatest—and last—hour of need, I ask you: would these men blaspheme before God by continuing to fix their lives, their honor, and their own search for eternal salvation on a book (and by implication a church and a ministry) they had fictitiously created out of whole cloth?

Never mind that their wives are about to be widows and their children fatherless. Never mind that their little band of followers will yet be “houseless, friendless and homeless” and that their children will leave footprints of blood across frozen rivers and an untamed prairie floor.9 Never mind that legions will die and other legions live declaring in the four quarters of this earth that they know the Book of Mormon and the Church which espouses it to be true. Disregard all of that, and tell me whether in this hour of death these two men would enter the presence of their Eternal Judge quoting from and finding solace in a book which, if not the very word of God, would brand them as imposters and charlatans until the end of time? They would not do that! They were willing to die rather than deny the divine origin and the eternal truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.

For 179 years this book has been examined and attacked, denied and deconstructed, targeted and torn apart like perhaps no other book in modern religious history—perhaps like no other book in any religious history. And still it stands. Failed theories about its origins have been born and parroted and have died—from Ethan Smith to Solomon Spaulding to deranged paranoid to cunning genius. None of these frankly pathetic answers for this book has ever withstood examination because there is no other answer than the one Joseph gave as its young unlearned translator. In this I stand with my own great-grandfather, who said simply enough, “No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so.”10

I testify that one cannot come to full faith in this latter-day work—and thereby find the fullest measure of peace and comfort in these, our times—until he or she embraces the divinity of the Book of Mormon and the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom it testifies. If anyone is foolish enough or misled enough to reject 531 pages of a heretofore unknown text teeming with literary and Semitic complexity without honestly attempting to account for the origin of those pages—especially without accounting for their powerful witness of Jesus Christ and the profound spiritual impact that witness has had on what is now tens of millions of readers—if that is the case, then such a person, elect or otherwise, has been deceived; and if he or she leaves this Church, it must be done by crawling over or under or around the Book of Mormon to make that exit. In that sense the book is what Christ Himself was said to be: “a stone of stumbling, . . . a rock of offence,”11 a barrier in the path of one who wishes not to believe in this work. Witnesses, even witnesses who were for a time hostile to Joseph, testified to their death that they had seen an angel and had handled the plates. “They have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man,” they declared. “Wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true.”12

Now, I did not sail with the brother of Jared in crossing an ocean, settling in a new world. I did not hear King Benjamin speak his angelically delivered sermon. I did not proselyte with Alma and Amulek nor witness the fiery death of innocent believers. I was not among the Nephite crowd who touched the wounds of the resurrected Lord, nor did I weep with Mormon and Moroni over the destruction of an entire civilization. But my testimony of this record and the peace it brings to the human heart is as binding and unequivocal as was theirs. Like them, “[I] give [my name] unto the world, to witness unto the world that which [I] have seen.” And like them, “[I] lie not, God bearing witness of it.”13

I ask that my testimony of the Book of Mormon and all that it implies, given today under my own oath and office, be recorded by men on earth and angels in heaven. I hope I have a few years left in my “last days,” but whether I do or do not, I want it absolutely clear when I stand before the judgment bar of God that I declared to the world, in the most straightforward language I could summon, that the Book of Mormon is true, that it came forth the way Joseph said it came forth and was given to bring happiness and hope to the faithful in the travail of the latter days.

My witness echoes that of Nephi, who wrote part of the book in his “last days”:

“Hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, . . . and they teach all men that they should do good.

“And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day.”14

Brothers and sisters, God always provides safety for the soul, and with the Book of Mormon, He has again done that in our time. Remember this declaration by Jesus Himself: “Whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived”15—and in the last days neither your heart nor your faith will fail you. Of this I earnestly testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.


NOTES
1. See Matthew 24:24; see also Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:22.
2. Luke 21:26.
3. See History of the Church, 4:461.
4. 1 Nephi 8:30.
5. 1 Nephi 11:25, 27–28, 31.
6. Moroni 10:32.
7. Ether 12:37–38; see also D&C 135:5.
8. See History of the Church, 6:600.
9. Joseph Smith, in History of the Church, 4:539.
10. George Cannon, quoted in “The Twelve Apostles,” in Andrew Jenson, ed., The Historical Record, 6:175.
11. 1 Peter 2:8.
12. “The Testimony of Three Witnesses,” Book of Mormon.
13. “The Testimony of Eight Witnesses,” Book of Mormon; emphasis added.
14. 2 Nephi 33:10–11; emphasis added.
15. Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:37.

La Expiacion de Jesucristo es REAL!

Buenos Tardes, mi familia y mi amigos!

I'm already out 5 minutes on this thing. So I'm just going to jump into what I'd like to say today. :)

Last Sunday we had a lesson on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The other Hermanas in my District taught it, and let me just tell you...it was wonderful. We all went around and talked about what the Atonement means to each one of us. It was incredible to hear how it has been applied in the lives of others. One of the Hermanas said, "LOVE. The Atonement is LOVE for me." In all reality, that is EXACTLY what it is. Your Savior died for YOU because He. Loves. You. He wanted each and every one of us to have a way by which our lives could be made a little bit easier, a way by which we'd be able to repent and return to live with our Heavenly Father. If He didn't love you, He wouldn't have gone through what He did. It was not easy, but it was essential. He suffered so that you might not have to suffer as badly as you would have had to without it. Don't you ever for one second think you have it bad. Life can be difficult, I can certainly attest to that...but it would've been even MORE difficult, and worse than that, you would've been cut off from the presence of your Father in Heaven forever. We may not fully comprehend in this life how devasting that would be, but I promise you it would not be something you would want. SO, take advantage of it. Ask for help. Repent of those things that need repenting. He has prepared a way, now start walking. He is always there. He is always there because He CAN always be there. When you're feeling like you can't make it, when you're feeling like no one understands, when life seems to be the worst it's ever been, you turn to Him. He knows what it's like to be abandoned. He knows what it's like to feel pain. He knows what it's like to feel like no one understands. He knows it all. So you turn to Him.

We were watching a video yesterday. The District 2. You missionaries know what I'm talking about...but for those that don't it's a video series about a District in California (I believe) and the people they taught. The lessons were videotaped as well as everything else. It is absolutely incredible. Anyway, we watched this video on an investigator named Jynx. She had been taught much about the Gospel, she was very much dedicated to God, she wanted to know His will for her. She called up the missionaries one day and told them she had received her answer, the church wasn't for her...God didn't want her to join it. The missionaries were devastated. How do you approach something like that? I'll tell you...with the Spirit, it's the only way. They went and talked with her. They listened, they TRULY listened to what she had to say and one of them asked if she had been reading the Book of Mormon, if she had sincerely been reading it. She responded, "I would be lying if I said I have been." Then one of the Elders said (and I'm paraphrasing) "The Book of Mormon is key. Everything in this Gospel hinges on it...Everything. If this Book is true, then Joseph Smith was a Prophet. And if Joseph Smith was a Prophet then this Church is God's Church. You're holding this book in your hands right now, and you're telling me us you haven't read it?" As I write this I'm reminded of the power of that comment. She began to realize that all those Elders were asking her to do was read the book and pray about it. And they'd been asking her that every visit, she just couldn't ever find time. When she knelt down and said the pray at the end of the lesson, you could tell she sincerely wanted to know. It was absolutely incredible. She asked for energy to be able to read, she said she thought it might be Satan trying to keep her from reading, she asked to know if this was God's church.

Brothers and Sisters, Family and Friends, I testify to you that the Book of Mormon IS true. That it contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel, as does the Bible. I testify to you that if you read and if you pray, the Lord WILL answer you. It says in the Introduction, "We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost." It's all about you. I could sit there until I'm blue in the face and testify to you, but it would do YOU no good. YOU have to find out for yourself...if you so desire. And I would hope that you do. Elder Holland testified in October General Conference last year about the Book of Mormon. (Mom, if you could look up "Safety for the Soul" and attach the video to the blog, that would be wonderful). He said...and you think about this, please...he said, "No evil man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it...unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so."

I know this work is the Lord's work. I love it. I love being apart of it. It's difficult, but it is absolutely wonderful.
Enjoy General Conference this weeked! (One of the Elders in my district is singing at the Priesthood Session!...Elder Munk!)
I love you all, and so does your Heavenly Father and your Savior, Jesus Christ!

- Hermana Word

"God always looks for the good--and He always finds it...always in you. Satan, Satan looks for the bad and he finds it...thety both find what they're looking for. God is the happiest being in the universe and Satan is the [saddest]....because they both find what they're looking for."