Letter 9/21/14

My mom sent me this thought this week:
      Thought for the day comes from Stand a Little Taller by President Gordon B. Hinckley.  D&C 6:10 "Behold thou hast a gift, and blessed art though because of thy gift.  Remember it is sacred and cometh from above."               You need never feel inferior.  You need never feel that you were born without talents or without opportunities to give them expression.  There is something of divinity in you.  You have such tremendous potential because of your inherited nature.  Every on of you was endowed by your Father in Heaven with a tremendous capacity to do good in the world.  Cultivate the art of being kind, of being thoughtful, of being helpful.  Refine within you the quality of mercy which comes as a part of the divine attributes you have inherited.

     So, I was thinking, God is really kind. God is so kind that he gives us exactly what we need when we need it. I so often feel weak, but I keep asking for help. I keep asking and trying, and I've found that the Lord gives me exactly what I need in exact second I do. Like yesterday; I have been studying the atonement so much! I'm trying to learn how to use it in my life more and understand it more. Yesterday I got my answer in a tender way. Also yesterday, we didn't know where to go at one point and we drove to like 2 places thinking they would be good. Finally, because we needed to finish planning, we drove to the Walmart parking lot. We were talking about how we can get members to participate more and things like that, and then I just decided that if I wanted everyone else to do hard things I needed to. So, I got out of the car and went and talked to a worker there. We got his number and everything and will be setting up an appointment soon. 

Love,

Sister Short

Letter 9/15/14

Dear Everybody,

You know what I've been thinking about? I've been thinking--isn't it cool that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Now this doesn't mean that everyone can't feel the Spirit--they definitely can and if you didn't think that you need to study up some--but to have the Gift of the Holy Ghost is a promise of His companionship as long as we are worthy. This is a promise that anyone can join in on--just ask the Missionaries how. Pray about it. Do you know why this Gift is wonderful? Because "the Spirit will tell you all things that ye should do"!!!!!!! So really, if we are ready and willing, we will do everything the Lord has asked!

Now, a question--do we keep our listening ears on? I know I don't always. It's something we have to work at. We have to consciously listen don't we? We have to seek out those words and feelings. 

Might I suggest that we each take some time--be it 5 minutes or 20 minutes--to rid oneself of all distractions and just listen? Pray and read the scriptures. Listen. Become accustomed to the feelings and nudging of the Spirit--that will do you much good in any situation and will affect all aspects of life. Know the voice of the Messenger of God--it will teach you of Him. This is how you'll know it's of God. 

With hope and love,

Sister Short

Thought for the Day - (from Stand a Little Taller) D&C 84:88  "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will so before your face.  I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."  Sometimes you pray to the Lord with great earnestness for help, for relief from your struggles.  You wonder why your prayers are not answered as you would like them to be.  We have all had that experience.  But we come to know as the years pass that our Father in Heaven does hear our prayers.  His wisdom is greater than ours, and we come to know that He answers our prayers even though the answers at times are difficult to discern.  (President Gordon B. Hinckley).

Letter 9/7/14

So this week we had Zone Training. It was a really tender experience as we all remembered the life of Sister Vea. I can't describe the Spirit that was there.
Our mission President told us that a young adult is 8 times more likely to pass away off a mission than on one. It's easy to worry when missionaries get hurt because we consider someone called by the Lord to be protected. I think we must be careful to remember that the Lord is in control, and the Lord understands. It's hard to comprehend why sometimes, but it's important to remember God's love for each of us and for us collectively. I'm trying to make this make sense, but I think the most important thing we need to do is simply honor those who sacrifice in the Lord's name--no matter what that sacrifice ends up being.
Love,
Sister Short

 Thought for the day comes from the PG East Stake Relief Society Newsletter.  Article written by Laura Bichon. " How willing am I to be taught by the Lord and His servants? How receptive am I to the inspiration I receive? Do I do the things, like consistent personal prayer and gospel study, that will help me to be more receptive to His counsel? How do I respond to correction? Do I ask questions when things aren't clear or do I just go on in my confusion? Do I express gratitude when the Lord helps me?
     These are some hard questions to ask, and they may be even harder to answer honestly. However, asking and answering these questions honestly can help us to open ourselves up more to the influence and counsel of the Lord. If you feel like these are some questions that you would like to examine in your own life, I would encourage you (and all of us) to take the time to seriously ask ourselves, and answer,
these questions."

Letter 9/1/14

I've been thinking so much that there are causes and effects to everything in life. Our perception of the world and therefore our actions are shaped by prior thoughts. Is it any wonder that Christ gave the higher law as a law of causes and thoughts--to not even think of sinning? Now, that sounds like a lot in many ways right? But have we ever considered the thoughts we have as being an effect of something deeper as well? What, at the deepest parts of our soul, define us? 

Helaman 5:12  "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundations; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fail."

It is my hope and prayer that each of us will take the time to seek to understand--TRULY understand--our Savior and especially His Atonement. His Atonement is the power to be more than we are. It is literally the power to change. It is the power to become all that our Heavenly Father sees that we can become. 

It is my testimony that the more we learn of the Atonement, the more we begin to see all that we wish to understand about it. 

Please begin now to pray and ask God to help you recognize the power of the Atonement. It is the ultimate cause and it's effect is eternal joy. 

With love,

Sister Short

Thought for the day: (Comes from the book titled "Prayer")  Our personal prayers need not be long, but I think it appropriate to remind all that they should be more frequent.  We do need to thank God in all things and ask for his help in our keeping all of his commandments.  We have been commanded to pray under all conditions wherever we are.  Our spirits are heaven-drawn, anxious for constant communication with the source of all great strength.  The Savior set a beautiful pattern as shared in 3 Nephi 19:17-34.

Letter 8/24/14

This last few weeks I've been trying to really focus on the Atonement. The Atonement is pure love. I don't think we even begin to comprehend how big and strong it is until we really start consciously looking for it and using it. The Atonement is Christ becoming At-one with us. My invitation for you all is this (and please let me know how it goes through letters and email and such): learn more about the atonement. Pray and ask God in what way you should start, then listen and look, then do that one thing. Do this over and over and talk to God about it--it will change you. 

We lost one of our own. Sister Vea is wonderful--spunky and funny. She knows how to love God and how to have fun. It only took a few moments to know you could trust her. Please pray for her family.  Please also don't forget to pray for her companion and everyone else involved. They need your love. They need God close. 

These two ideas may not seem connected, but if you look close you'll see they are.

Love,

Sister Short

 Thought for the day comes from "Leading Like the Savior" by Ryan Carr (Ensign July 2014).  Christlike leaders seek to help others develop.  President Kimball taught: "Jesus trusts his followers enough to share his work with them so that they can grow.  That is one of the greatest lessons of his leadership.  If we brush other people aside in order to see a task done more quickly and effectively, the task may get done all right, but without the growth and development in followers that is so important.....  Jesus gave people truths and tasks that were matched to their capacity.  He did not overwhelm them with more than they could manage, but gave them enough to stretch their souls." 

Letter 8/10/14

Life lesson--stuff is expensive! I do NOT know how all you adults do it!  Note to self--be good at budgeting! Seriously, that's a great skill to have future missionaries learn. I feel like I'm sort of getting the hang of it so I'm excited. It's just funny what things one learns on a mission that one isn't necessarily considering....

Something has really hit me in the last few days--missions prepare us for life. The things I am learning here will shape my future in a way I can't even comprehend. I look at myself when I left...and then now...and then I imagine the future and I KNOW God wanted me here. I KNOW I will never be the same.

Story of the week! (sorry it's not detailed....)

So, I was on exchanges with Sister Jeppson. So we did a whole bunch of things, and then ran out of plans. So, we went and had dinner and I was talking to Sister Jeppson and I was feeling kind of stressed (I really don't like not having plans) and then Sister Jeppson suggested we go walking. So we went to OTM at the pond. We walked out there and nobody was there. 

So we just decided to walk to the nearest neighborhood. We walked onto that street and felt prompted to a house. We knocked and talked to a really sweet young lady and gave her a Book of Mormon. Then we were prompted across the street to a house. We talked to the lady there. We start telling here about our beliefs and a man walks out of the bedroom and goes "It was an angel named Moroni." So we are going "whaaaaaaat?" and saying "wait come back!" as he walks towards the kitchen. Turns out the man is SUPER nice and SUPER funny (he actually sort of reminds me of my brother Jon) and his grandparents are the ones who started the family history center in the area so he knows TONS about LDS people and our beliefs. It was amazing to talk with him and (fingers crossed) hopefully we will hear more news soon. 

Then we walked across the street and talked to a member and her daughter who  just moved in and wants to quite smoking. (FYI we have a GREAT stop smoking workshop--just saying.) THEN a man drove up on his motorcycle who knew Sister Lawrence and said "You aren't my Sisters." (I knew he was okay though because he was wearing a "Dads Against Daughters Dating" T-shirt). We explained about exchanges and he said to bring Sister Lawrence by. So then we start walking home to grab our car.

On the way Sister Jeppson waves at a cop car and I tease her with "Only waving at the cops huh?" She explains that no--actually they had been pulled over twice by that cop in like the last week. It was for silly things so they got off with warnings,  but she was hoping they'd get to talk to him again because she felt like he had been prepared.  We were about to get into our car when; "I thought I'd come and talk to you before I had to pull you over." That's right--the cop. We ended up talking to him a long time about our beliefs. We gave him a Book of Mormon. The Spirit was so strong. I am so excited for him to read the Book of Mormon! 

Well, I love you all! Keep up the great work and don't forget to read the Book of Mormon!

Love,

Sister Short

 Thought for the day - Jean A. Stevens, "Fear Not; I Am with Thee".  "Our Father knows us and hears the pleadings of our hearts.  He accomplishes His miracles one  prayer at a time, one person at a time.  We can trust that He will help us, not necessarily in the way we want but in the way that will best help us to grow.  Submitting our will to His may be difficult, but  it is essential to becoming like Him and finding the peace He offers us.  

Letter 7/28/14

This week has been a very interesting week! So, anyone that knows me knows I can't exactly sing....but guess what?! The Spirit totally makes that okay! Haha! Okay, let me explain: we were looking to get some referrals yes? So we went and asked members who they knew who could use an uplifting song/hymn. Then we went and sang to the people! It was so fun! The Spirit was so strong that it sounded actually good! And funny thing--it really worked! 

I have a really wonderful thing to say! So here in Bentonville there is this amazing art museum called Crystal Bridges! We went there today and looked at some of the BEAUTIFUL art. This is such a tender mercy to me--I get this sense of serenity looking at beautiful art that I hardly can describe. It's peaceful and gives me a calm and a constant little smile. I felt so happy! I am so grateful to God for that tender mercy.

Lastly, I wanted to tell everyone something really important to me. I wanted to talk about loving someone for who they can be. This requires us to look at someone through the eyes of God. This requires not limiting someone based on their current religious background or their appearance. This requires the heavenly attribute of UNDERSTANDING. I bring this up because here in my area my companion and I are meeting with a woman who is Wiccan. Literally she is a witch. Now some people would dismiss her for that. She's felt that before. She's experienced that in some of the worst possible ways. But still, she is kind. She has a wonderful heart. SHE IS A DAUGHTER OF GOD. I pray that each of us will take the time to pray to understand this a little more, to love a little easier, and to see people through the eyes of eternity. We need to do this if we are to bring souls to Christ. Truly God loves each and every one of us. We give because our love compels us to try to give everyone all that we enjoy.

Love,

Sister Short