Letter 03-10-14

Thank you for the Garmin! I will need it so I am so glad I asked because (drum roll please) I am getting transferred! I am going to a little town called Henrietta OK. We are shotgunning (it is a term that means both missionaries in the companionship are new to the area) Elders (now they get Sisters) and my companion is Sister Lowe!

Yes, pause for a second, think it through, wait for the penny to drop

SISTERS SHORT AND LOWE

Haha you can laugh now.

I am so excited!

I will have to write more in letter-format because I'm almost out of time.

So I'm leaving Thursday and packing all week.

Time for a new adventure!!!

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Letter 03-03-14

The Book of Mormon

It really all comes down to the Book of Mormon. We want someone to accept the church? Start them reading the Book of Mormon. We want to reactivate someone? Get them reading the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon is the strongest, most undeniable witness of the Church. Why do missionaries teach the Restoration first? So people can understand the importance of the Book of Mormon in their conversion. The Book of Mormon IS a miracle and people feel God in that book if they care enough to look. I have found that if I can convince someone to read and ponder the Book of Mormon daily then I don't even worry about them--THEY WILL COME BACK. If they keep reading then either they have to come back or they have to deny the Spirit and they stop reading. The book is too pure and good and full of the Spirit for it not to change the honest seeker of truth. It is our proof. The story of the Restoration of the Gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith is too big a claim to be somewhat true. It must be true or false, and reading the Book of Mormon tells us that. The Book of Mormon is full of goodness and truth and light and Jesus Christ--why in the world would a wicked person write such a book? They couldn't. Therefore he is a Prophet of God. Everything is held up by that one little book. Want motivation? Just start. Want more happiness, purpose, peace, joy? Just start. Just pray often and start.

So, my question is this; after all God has done to give it to us, how are we going to answer God when he asks us about how much we loved His gift?

For those of you that may not be doing well with it, or those of you that haven't read it, I would say there's no better time to start than now. Mormon.org has free copies you can request. 

Letter 02-24-14

Dear Everybody!!

My mom sent me this in her email to me this week and I want to show it to all of you! (My comments are directed towards Latter-Day Saint Members specifically.)

   

Thought for the day - 1 Peter 2:9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people".  We are a covenant people and great are the obligations which go with that covenant.  We cannot be ordinary people.  We must rise above the crowd.  We must stand a little taller.  We must be a little better, a little kinder, a little more generous, a little more courteous, a little more thoughtful, a little more outreaching to others.

I love that! We are a peculiar people! Sometimes I think we fall into the trap of wanting the unique blessings the Gospel has to offer, while still wanting to be "normal". We don't want to stand out, we don't want to be weird, we don't want to disregard the social norm. Well guess what? We don't have that right. We are a "peculiar people". Now I'm not saying we need flaunt ourselves. Pride was never meant to be in the equation. I am asking everyone to think about themselves and to consider whether or not we, through our everyday actions, show that we are ashamed of the Lord our God. Do we remain firmly and lovingly loyal to the Jesus Christ who has gathered us as his own? Do we awkwardly mumble answers to those who ask us "Wait, you're Mormon?", do we feel we have to toe the modesty line to be attractive, do we feel we need to compromise to be acceptable? We do not have to. Standing up for what we believe--loyaly, RESPECTFULLY, gently, and WITH OUR TESTIMONY--is not wrong. Using pride, overbearing words, or in any way acting like we are better IS wrong however. We are blessed. Period. Everyone who wants to reach for it may be a member of our church and share in everything we have. We can show love. We can share our testimony, and we can show humble thanks to God for making us a peculiar people.

This is my personal testimony. (I wrote it fast so if I need to rephrase things, expect that next week please.)

Love,

Sister Short