Conference, Gratitude and Miracles

Hi Everyone!

 

Well, wasn't General Conference just amazing? Wow. So many wonderful talks. And having Holland start out on Saturday and Utchdorf on Sunday was like starting with dessert first! I mean, all the speakers were wonderful, but Holland and Utchdorf are two of my favorites.

 

Speaking of Utchdorf, I just need to take a minute and publicly express my gratitude for my circumstances. I am so grateful to be on a mission right now. I'm so grateful to be part of the hastening, and how many wonderful people I've had the chance to meet. I'm grateful that I have an AWESOME companion from Idaho. Seriously, Sister Tavenner and I are so different, but we get along so well! I'm grateful to be in a great ward, and to have been here for 5 months is even better! I love the people we are working with. And of course, I love Diane. She's still just amazing as ever. Still going strong, and she even watched all 4 sessions of conference at the church with us!

 

Also, I'm grateful for where I come from. I'm grateful for a supportive family, and a great network of friends. I'm so grateful for the sisters in my home ward that wrote letters of support and encouragement to Diane this week. She read the letters from her new friends and sisters in the gospel with tears in her eyes. Thank you to those who sent her those sweet messages.

 

But, this wouldn't be a Sister Laser Mission Email without a miracle. Hmmmm, which one to choose... well, this week we had a lady that Sister Heath and I taught back in January watch General Conference at a members house! We had visited the member earlier that week and suggested they invite her to watch conference. Rochelle (investigator) watched the Sunday Afternoon session and LOVED IT! The family was so excited to call us and tell us the good news. Rochelle had some of her prayers answered by the speakers, and said that she felt the Spirit. She even teared up during the last song. Not to mention 2 speakers talked about Joseph Smith and basically taught her the Restoration! Amazing! Just proves to me that the seeds we plant may take a while to sprout, but they will sprout in time.

 

Speaking of seed planting, 2nd miracle. We met this man named Wade the first week in February while he was burning a wood pile in his yard, and he was pretty buzzed too. We met with him 2 weeks in a row, but he was pretty argumentative and wouldn't listen. We gave him a Book of Mormon and he challenged ME to pray if it was true, and I in turn challenged him to read it. Well, I did my end of the bargain... but we didn't see him for over 2 months! I'm actually almost done reading the Book of Mormon again, and I had just finished it when he gave me that challenge. But as we drove by his house on Saturday, something told me to stop in on Wade. We met him, a humble and changed man. He met us, Book of Mormon in hand, admitted he didn't remember which chapters he should read, but humbly asked for suggestions. We wrote them down, and asked me what became of my challenge to pray if the Book of Mormon was true. I told him that when I prayed, I felt a tingling sensation go through my whole body, and I just felt a pure joy come over me. And I testified that I felt that same way now, and that I knew it was the Spirit telling me again the Book of Mormon was true. The Spirit was so strong, and he was truly a different person. It was really amazing.

 

What I have learned so far, as I approach my halfway mark of my mission, is that a mission is really just a 18-month lesson on the Atonement. I have seen so many people change, and repent, and become much better people. I have seen the Savior and the Spirit working on people to help them reach their potential as Sons and Daughters of God. I even have had a chance to experience in a small way some of the rejection that my Savior faced on His earthly mission. I too have cried wishing, hoping, that people would just listen to the message so that they could have joy and eternal life. And I know that this week the Lord has let me know that He is aware of me, and suffered what I have suffered, and I know that His love is real. The Atonement is for so much more than sins: it is for our infirmities, our pains, our temptations. (Alma 7:11-13) It is so the Savior could know us perfectly and be our Mediator. It is a beautiful lesson to learn. A hard lesson, but a much needed lesson.

 

I hope you have a wonderful week, and I hope you can keep Conference in your heart.

 

Sister Laser