He is Risen, He is Risen

Dear family and friends,

It was such a blessing to focus on the Savior this week during my study time. I read about the Resurrection in the Bible Dictionary, the accounts in Mark and John about Christ's last days on earth, watched "The Lamb of God" over and over again (actually, we only watched it in our appointments, but we really did watch it over and over again), the revelation Joseph F. Smith received in D&C 138 about our Savior ministering to the righteous souls in the spirit world before He was resurrected...What a great opportunity it is to be able to learn more about our Savior's life, His character, His Gospel, His truths. I feel ashamed for not focusing more on the Savior's life in studying the scriptures before now. It's pretty inexcusable considering I've been going to church my whole life and Seminary for 4 years in high school, reading the scriptures on my own for 7 or 8 years, taking religion classes in which the study is focused on the scriptures for 2 years....It's just sad. The Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, Pearl of Great Price...All of these precious tools are given to us to learn more of our Lord and Redeemer, our Savior Jesus Christ, and how often do we focus strictly on Him? True, sometimes it's important to focus on principles and attributes that will help you grow as you study, but it's been an incredible experience to focus more on the Savior and His mercy, because He is "the light, and the life, and the truth" (Ether 4:12). He is the only way to eternal, lasting joy, to being clean, to becoming perfect. He provided everything for each of us. Wow.

It sounds like you had a fabulous time in South Carolina! Boy, it must have been great. What a beautiful place to spend a week for Spring Break and Easter! It's too bad you weren't able to attend church on Sunday! Sister Takapu and I participated in the branch choir for the Easter program on Sunday--one of the sisters in the branch has a very musically talented father who arranged a rendition of "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" and she tweaked it a little bit and conducted us in the singing of it. :) It is absolutely beautiful. So many parts, so much blending, so much goodness, oh boy. It was a great song to be singing on Easter when we celebrate what we know--that Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, lives. A couple of people came to church yesterday who aren't members of the Church and so we were able to meet them, and hopefully we'll be able to answer questions they have and talk to them more about what we believe, and impart the importance of it to them. Member referrals are so great! We can't talk to everyone, even though we try, so it's wonderful when members of the Church introduce us to people that they know who are interested in learning more. I firmly believe that we all know people who are more prepared and receptive to the messages we teach simply because they know us and that we believe. If it's nothing more than curiosity, it's enough. We had dinner yesterday with a family from the ward who have 4 cute, intelligent, red-headed kiddies, and we discussed how we (members of Christ's restored Church) are a very small percentage of the world's population. And of the members of the church that make up that percentage, a smaller amount and percent is active in the Church. And of THAT smaller percent, how many members are full-time missionaries? The work I am doing as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is great, because every soul is of great worth (D&C 18:10), but it's not enough, as President Hinckley said. We're trying to enlist the help of all of the members here in Ithaca, but this is only one little place. This Gospel needs to be taken to all of the world--NO ONE IS OUT OF THE REACH OF OUR SAVIOR'S ATONEMENT. So we just need to expand our reach. :)

At Friday Forum (for the LDSSA at Cornell where we have a discussion about gospel-related topics and an article, and free, delicious lunch) last week a friend of one of the branch members came (he comes quite often, actually, and is very Christian) and I was reminded by him that I shouldn't let my weaknesses become an excuse for me not excelling or achieving the expectations I have for myself and our Heavenly Father has for me. I don't want to be someone that only coasts along, as I've been wont to do so often in my life. Haha. This life is precious and is a gift for me--for all of us--to learn and become more like Christ, more like our Father. How long does this life last? About 90 years if we're blessed with that amount of time? It's not eternally "worth it" to give in to laziness now, to satisfy my fatigue or selfishness or pride or whatever, because the benefits of living righteously and sacrificing my own selfish wants FAR OUTWEIGH the costs of those sacrifices. I just have to remember the end goal, here--eternal life, living with my family forever, living with my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ forever, obtaining a celestial body, inheriting the kingdom of God, joy, peace, EVERYTHING is to be gained. So I must "pray always" (D&C 10:5--this is a really good one, by the way).

We helped one of the ladies who was recently baptized organize her jewelry this week--it was great! Remember how much I like to look at your jewelry, Mom? Well, this sister has a lot of cool jewelry, too--earrings, bracelets (I learned that tennis bracelets are not just athletic sweat bands), necklaces, watches, rings, brooches (is that right?), you name it. She even gave me a REALLY awesome pair of Merlin earrings, with little men holding a crystal ball! I can't wait to wear them in 1 & 1/2 years!

Our little teaching pool has receded like the rivers running through the Ithaca gorges, because a few people have kind of faded out of communication, so we've been trying to find some more people who are searching for the truth. And within the past...3 days we have heard of many different people who possibly want to learn more. The Lord is so aware of the people here. Yes, many of them are very intelligent and might be prone to discount God's hand in their lives, but there are also many who are ready to accept the truth of His love, His guidance, His visible (though not literally visible) hand.

Well, I love you! I'm glad to hear that the trip was so SWEET! Until next week, my beloveds.

Love for always,

Sister Smith

P.S. We found an AWESOME waterfall this weekend! It's smaller than others, and it's kind of hidden away from the road, but...oh man...when we ventured in (not into the water, but down the path that wasn't really a "path") and saw all of the beauty...It was an incredible blessing to remember the "beauty of the earth" and the Lord's hand in providing it for us. Maybe I'll send pictures next week in the email; I can't this week, because I forgot the cord at home. :) Just wait 'til you see it.