We finally got a
little winter weather, it went from 70-80 degrees to 50 (if you can even call
that winter weather...). Haha I'm lucky.
We had Zone Conference
on Tuesday and I LOVED it. I have the best mission president in the world! We
are having a huge push in the mission this week to teach doctrine simply. Our
only job really is to be messengers of the pure, simple, doctrinal truths. We
aren't called to flatter people or persuade them. We don't have to sell our
message, we just testify! I love it.
Went on two exchanges,
I was with Sister Reese first and then Sister Wensel. They are amazing sisters!
I'm blessed to be able to learn from them and work in their areas. Had some
neat experiences, including finding a guy and teaching him the whole
restoration right on the spot! He was so prepared for the gospel, love finding
people like that.
Had a little rough
patch with Sister Naylor getting sick for the past couple days, and Adeline
dropped us ): We committed her to be baptized at our lesson on Friday, and it
was such a powerful lesson. Then Sunday she texted us and asked not
to meet with us anymore. A bummer, but we know God has a plan for her! She
loves the gospel, but needs a little more time.
I've been studying faith a lot lately. This morning I was reading in Mosiah 23 and 24, when the people of Alma are in bondage to the Lamanites. First, the people saw the appearance of the Lamanites coming and were scared, but 23:27says: "Alma went forth and stood among them, and exhorted them that they should not be frightened, but that they should remember the Lord their God and he would deliver them. Therefore, they hushed their fears, and began to cry unto the Lord." Then in 24:13, it says "the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort... 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. 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. And it came to pass that so great was their faith and patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage."
I've been studying faith a lot lately. This morning I was reading in Mosiah 23 and 24, when the people of Alma are in bondage to the Lamanites. First, the people saw the appearance of the Lamanites coming and were scared, but 23:27says: "Alma went forth and stood among them, and exhorted them that they should not be frightened, but that they should remember the Lord their God and he would deliver them. Therefore, they hushed their fears, and began to cry unto the Lord." Then in 24:13, it says "the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort... 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. 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. And it came to pass that so great was their faith and patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage."
These verses of
scripture really helped me out and touched me. They led me to a few others,
such as Alma 33:23 "And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may
be light, through the joy of his son." and Alma 31:38, "And the Lord
provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea,
and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of
afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ."
Moral of the story: Our trials and afflictions can be
"swallowed up in the joy of Christ." As we increase our faith, it
decreases our burdens by giving us the strength we need to push through them.
The Lord doesn't necessarily take away our trials, but He helps give us
strength. We can't be scared by the looks of things with our limited
perspective. But rather, we need to trust God and turn to Him! Replace our fear
with faith.
This helped me a lot this week, and probably is mainly for me haha but I thought I'd share. I'm eternally grateful for this gospel. Don't take it for granted! We are so blessed to have the truth <3
--Sister Bishop
We basically have the
most beautiful sunsets in the world. Pictures do NOT do it justice.
Me and Sister Marsh
with our apple-sauce to go (:
Low quality zone conference picture
A lady named Betty
gave me a binder full of info for her ancestors and permission to do the temple
work for them! I now have 80 names prepared for the temple, all coming from
this family of 18 (: best thing ever!! A little pitch forfamilysearch.org,
I'm a fan.
Exchanges with Sister Reese!!
Some members gave us
these fabulous turtle neck shirts haha
They didn't have a
blow dryer, but they did have this fan...that'll do. (:
Exchanges with Sister
Wensel haha (: don't ask.
Our Zone Leaders...
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