Dear family,
Thank you so much for all of the
emails and pictures (especially from you, Sarah)! Jordan Wertz is home! Oh
hooray! I'm so sad that Nate passed away last week--the few interactions I have
had with him were always positive ones. Nate's a nice young man. So much peace
for him as he continues to progress in the spirit world! Please let the Shorts
know my appreciation for them and for Nate's friendliness.
We didn't have our preparation day
yesterday, which is why I'm emailing today. Elder Shane M. Bowen, of the First
Quorum of the Seventy, visited our mission and we had a really incredible Zone
Conference with him yesterday morning. Sister Castaneda and I actually met him
on Sunday when he and Sister Bowen and President Wirthlin came to our apartment
to see what kind of housing the missionaries in the NYUM enjoy. We'd magic
erasered the walls and baseboards, vacuumed with deep cleaning powder
stuff...Oh, we prepared for this visit. Anyway, it was really really neat to
talk with them. They care so much and are so put together--a common phrase you
heard all of the time in the MTC is "quiet dignity" to invite and
keep the Spirit. That's how I felt they acted, quietly dignified. They served
as mission president in the Spain Barcelona mission before and they know a lot
about missionary work. Something I didn't realize, and something that Sister
Castaneda reiterated this morning in companion study, is that members of the
Quorum of the Seventy are ordained missionaries, basically. We're set apart,
but they are ordained. Luke 10 talks about the original seventy that Jesus
Christ called while He was in His earthly ministry. They were commanded to go
and teach and perform works in the Lord's name. The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints has the same organization as the Primitive Church of Jesus
Christ! Neat. So yes, Elder Bowen trained us yesterday and he focused on how we
need to know who we are and where we come from in order to do what we're
supposed to do. He specifically taught about the Abrahamic covenant, and how we
are participants in that covenant because we are members of Christ's Church and
thereby part of the House of Israel, who inherited the Abrahamic covenant. We
also inherit the promises and responsibilities, the privileges of Abraham and
his seed (because we are his seed). I don't know if this is confusing, but it
was a great training. When we can see clearly the goal, the ultimate goal, then
it's easier to stay diligent and faithful in accomplishing that goal. We have
the incredible opportunity to take knowledge of our Redeemer and His plan to
the world! And we have been given tools to help us do that! We've been given
help! So what we need to do is...do it! Hahaha. Really, though. When we place
"artificial limitations" (as he called them) on ourselves, then we
halt the progress of the Lord's work for us. Elder Bowen emphasized that we are
more capable than we think we are. The training has helped me to again refocus
and determine to be more diligent. The more people we talk to, the better
opportunity we'll have of finding those who are ready to act on the gospel they
receive.
It's raining today. :)
We've been meeting with a couple in
the ward who haven't come to church in a long while, and they are so wonderful.
They love each other and they want to seal their marriage of 17 years in the
temple. We've explained that the blessings of the temple are available to those
who are valiant and obedient and that they'd need to become active in their
church attendance so they can qualify for those blessings, in addition to the
blessings of just coming to church! Namely, happiness and the Spirit... :) So
last Monday we brought our ward mission leader with us to meet with them and he
offered to give them a ride to church that Sunday, and they came to church!
People greeted them, they stayed for all of the meetings, and things are
awesome. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the endless opportunities to
become better.
It was a good last week. I'm using
up my NyQuil, but don't worry, I'll get more today. :) I'm going to be like the
stripling warriors--"exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for
strength and activity...true at all times in whatsoever thing [I am]
entrusted" (Alma 53:19).
I sure love you. I can't believe
it's September 18th! Time is flying.
Well, well, I miss you, love you,
and can't wait for Dec. 25!
Love for always,
Sister Smith
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