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Hermana Bryn Nelson
Chile, Concepción South Mission
brynlyn.nelson@missionary.org
I FINISHED THE BOOK OF MORMON!!! This was my quickest time reading it thru. I have come closer to Christ through this book. I have received a knowledge of Him, of His gospel, His doctrine, His character. I prayed to know if this book is true. The Holy Ghost doesn't need to profoundly declare it to me. It just continues to confirm the truths that lie on these pages; the truths that speak to my heart. Simply and plainly, my testimony is further strengthened.
I started reading this time with the intent of hitting cover to cover before I started my mission. Haaaa that did not happen BUT God's hand was definitely still in the retrospect.
That book is seriously so powerful. Even the act of devoting an hour each day to read it has changed my life. I feel not only more knowledgeable on the Doctrine of Christ and the stories of the BOM, but I feel more converted. They were right in primary, it really is the little things. Once again I see how God brings forth His purposes through imperfect efforts.
He also acknowledges, accepts, and appreciates these imperfect efforts. Intentionality will always outweigh perfection in His eyes. If our desires are there, and our desires are pure, He sees that.
We can't only strive for testimony, but for conversion. A testimony is when we know or believe things to be true, but conversion is when we diligently live, act, and love according to that knowledge or belief. A testimony leads to conversion. But... a testimony can be lost, weakened, or forgotten. A testimony alone will never be enough. We need to LIVE what we know and EMBODY what we believe.
Just want to testify that this book is true! This Church is true! I love it more every day.
I love you all! Our Savior loves you more!
So blessed to wear His name on my heart,
💓 Hna Nelson
*Hermana Nelson will fly out to Chile next Tuesday
Elder Orion Hafen
Republic of Congo Brazzaville Mission
orion.hafen@missionary.org
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During the week my comp was in the hospital I read the book "Saints - Volume 1", which is the first book of a 3 part series about the early Latter-Day Saints and the re-establishment of the Church. It uses a compilation of primary and secondary sources to give an entertaining and highly detailed narrative of the many struggles of the Early Saints. I'm comforted to know that my trivial problems are frankly nothing in comparison to the torture that the early saints endured. While Joseph Smith was in Liberty Jail, he cried out unto the Lord, confused on why God would let them suffer these trials. The Lord reponded to Joseph's cries, "'if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee,' the Lord told Joseph, 'know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.'" (Saints Volume 1 - O God, Where Art Thou?)(D&C 122:7).
Joseph Smith accepted and understood that fact well. He continued forward with faith, acting on everything the Lord commanded of him, no matter how difficult or what consequences it would bring. Joseph Smith is a huge example to me, and often when I face struggles I think back to him and all of the cruel and unfair things he endured for his faith. I believe and am coming to better understand the words of the Lord in D&C 122:7; although there are many struggles in life, especially in the mission field, I know that they are all there for our own benefit.
I have strong faith that all of our trials are planned from the beginning and the Lord knows exactly what we are going through. Thus, I also believe that it is expedient that we have faith in the Lord through our afflictions. As He knows what we are going through, He also knows the best course of action. I've learned that as I face opposition and hardships, I can always be delivered by the grace of Christ. The Mission hasn't been easy so far, neither is it the hardest thing I or others will endure, but the one thing I know is that I wouldn't be able to persevere without the hand of God.
Elder Hafen
Elder Ryan Bradley Hoggan
Canada Toronto Mission
ryan.hoggan@missionary.org
I am currently serving in the Canada Toronto Mission. Toronto is probably the most diverse place in the world, and I have the wonderful opportunity to learn about many different cultures and teach them about Jesus!
I am enjoying my mission a lot. I have been able to grow in gratitude for all things. Gratitude for everything I have been given has made me much happier! I have also had the opportunity to grow my relationship with Christ! I have grown in understanding and faith so much that I more fully understand the passage in Helaman 5:12 when Helaman is telling his sons, Nephi and Lehi, about the amazing power that is available from believing in Christ.
I love being here and I love serving the people here in Ontario, Canada.
Elder Ryan Bradley Hoggan
Canada Toronto Mission
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Elder Brent and Sister Leslie Hadley
Europe Central Area (Germany Frankfurt) Records Preservation Mission
leslie.hadley@missionary.org, brent.hadley@missionary.org
🩶
Living so close to the temple and serving in the annex makes it possible for us to attend the temple multiple times per week sometimes. We have had some amazing unplanned experiences. For instance, we ended up in a sealing session with all senior missionaries that we serve with, and were able to participate in sealing 4 families that had 3-4 children each. It was so fun to experience the sealing of families with those you are working alongside with. In my family history research, I found a family with 14 children that have had some work done individually but not all together. One of the girls records was missing a birthplace, and we were able to find that record in family search. When we took her record to the temple for baptism, we were asked to do some extra names while in the baptistry and ended up being baptized for 20 other individuals from families of the temple workers. What a sweet experience to feel the love and excitement of doing the work together for our ancestors. We are truly blessed for opportunities to serve.
Love,
Elder & Sister Hadley
Sister Eliza Lee
New Zealand Auckland Mission
eliza.lee@missionary.org
This week was a teeny bit longer because our pday got changed to today because we got to go to the temple!! WOW I seriously love the temple so much! It's such an amazing and peaceful place to escape from the world for a bit. 10/10 recommend!
I want to first start with saying Happy New Zealand Father's Day!! I'm so so grateful for my dad, my grandpas, and all the other cool guys out there!
There is no rhyme or reason to some of the things that happened this week haha. So I'm not exactly sure how to organize them. So here's just a list of some random things that happened!
This old old Chinese lady was super sweet to give us some lunch. It was just some raw frozen pizza. Nice and chewy!
There's a foosball table at the institute building! New Zealand foosball tables are different from the ones in America. Who knew! But, it was still so fun to play a bit!
We have this old lady member who speaks very very little English. But she wants to learn how to sing the New Zealand national anthem. So she has us over all the time to help teach her. I literally have never heard the NZ national anthem before! So I guess we're learning together!
︎ We met this Italian lady who is so nice to have us over every month. She has such a strong accent and talks so fast. She's writing a movie, and had us watch the first take of it. Let's just say...it was quite the experience.
We always run into this Chinese guy at the library. He started talking about some of the American movies he likes to watch. And for those who know me...I may or may not fall asleep in every movie I attempt to watch. So I told him that I hadn't seen any of those movies. Which he then replies with, "Are you even American?" So yeahhh apparently I'm not American.
︎ We went drone fishing!! Who knew drone fishing was a thing?!?! Not Sister Lee. It was the most mind blowing thing I have ever experienced! We went with one of our members who lives in her van. And since you can't cast a pole far enough into the ocean...she has a drone that takes her fishing line with 6 hooks attached to it super duper far and plops them into the water. And then she has a battery powered fishing pole that reals the line in for her. It was seriously so so cool!! She caught 5 fish while we were there.
We were able to have some amazing spirit led lessons this week! I'm so so grateful for the spirit who guides and directs us. I know that this work is the Lord's work. It would not be possible without Him!
We are still working hard on getting our friends to attend church. There are so many amazing blessings that come from coming to church. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to partake of the sacrament every week!
SPIRITUAL THOUGHT:
WOW!!
I highly highly recommend you read the talk from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, called "The merciful obtain mercy."
In his talk he says...
"We must recognize that we are all imperfect—that we are beggars before God. Haven’t we all, at one time or another, meekly approached the mercy seat and pleaded for grace? Haven’t we wished with all the energy of our souls for mercy—to be forgiven for the mistakes we have made and the sins we have committed? Because we all depend on the mercy of God, how can we deny to others any measure of the grace we so desperately desire for ourselves? My beloved brothers and sisters, should we not forgive as we wish to be forgiven?"
Forgive others! Everyone is going to some sort of challenge. Don't add to their burden!
Love you all!!
♡ Sister Lee
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