“I know that He loveth His Children;
nevertheless I do not know the meaning of all things.”
How true this
scripture is! I don’t understand the reasons things happen in our lives or the
meaning of everything. But one thing I do know is that Heavenly Father loves
us. Each of us. I know that because he answers our prayers.
Elder Richard G Scott, of the quorum
of the twelve Apostles, once said, “Prayer is a supernal gift of our Father in
Heaven to every soul. Think of it: the absolute Supreme Being, the most
all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful personage, encourages you and me, as
insignificant as we are, to converse with Him as our Father.”
If there is
one thing I learned on my mission it is that every miracle begins with a
prayer. Think about that, Every miracle to occur in your life and in the lives
around us began with a prayer.
Today I would
like to share with you some important miracles that have affected all of our
lives, whether we realize it or not. As well as some personal experience from
my mission that will relate back to the over arching miracles. Every personal experience
I share began with a prayer and were truly miracles through out my mission.
The
first miracle, that I’d like to share, that began with a prayer has affected
every son and daughter of God is that of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
In Luke chapter 22 verses 39-44 it reads,
“And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount
of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray
that ye enter not into temptation.
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and
kneeled down, and prayed,
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from
me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven,
strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his
sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
Even Jesus
Christ prayed and received strength. Because of His prayer He successfully
preformed the Atonement. “That all mankind may be saved…”
It is such a
blessing to have the knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and what He has
done for us.
On my mission
I was able to meet and teach many people from all over the world. Prakas was
one of those people. He was from Nepal and had only been in the states a few weeks.
In Nepal the primary religion is Hinduism. Prakas was Hindu only because that
is the only thing he ever knew. He had never once heard of Jesus Christ or
Heavenly Father. We were able to teach him about the Savior. We explained the
miracle of the Atonement that the Savior loved him and knows him personally. We
taught Prakas about Prophets. He had never heard of a Prophet or that there was
a thing as Priesthood Authority, which is the Authority given to worthy men by
God to preform sacred ordinances such as Baptisms. We explained that a role of
a prophet is to teach and testify of Jesus Christ. As we taught him about
Heavenly Fathers love for His children and that we were all Brothers and
Sisters Prakas countance changed! He came to the knowledge that we take for granted
every day, that is that we are loved by our Heavenly Father.
On many
occasion as a Sister Training Leader I had the opportunity to give trainings at
different conferences. One training in particular that has stuck with me is one
I presented on hope. Often times we think of hope as something we wish would
occur, but we know that it will never happen. That is not, however, the way
that our Heavenly father and the scriptures want us to think about “hope” Hope
is believing and expecting that The Lord will live up to His promises. During
this training on hope an Elder shared this story that had brought him great
hope as he was in the service of our Father in Heaven.
A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled
with light and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do,
and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the
man was to push against the rock with all his might.
This the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from
sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive
surface of the unmoving rock, pushing it with all his might. Each night the man
returned to his cabin sore, and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent
in vain.
Noticing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, the
devil decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man’s weary
mind. “You have been pushing against this rock for a long time, and it hasn’t
budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it.” Thus
giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a
failure. These troubling thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. “Why
kill myself over this?” Maybe I should just put in my time, giving just the
minimum effort and that will be good enough.
He prayed, saying “Lord, I have labored long and hard in your
service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after
all this time, I have not even been able to budge that rock. What is wrong? Why
am I failing?”
The Lord responded compassionately, “My friend, When I asked you
to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the
rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to
you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to
me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really
so?”
“Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back
sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs
have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your
abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven’t moved the
rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your
faith and trust in my wisdom. This you have done. I, my friend, will now move
the rock.”
In several of
the wards I served in my companions and I introduced a 40 days fast. This is
where each family in the ward chose to fast one or more days during a 40 day
period of time. This paralleled the 40 day fast that the Savior offered before
His ministry. They were asked to fast for missionary work in their area and for
those that we were currently working with. Along with their fast they were also
encouraged to pray everyday for the work to hasten, for the missionaries by
name, and for those that we were working with by name. Immediately as the fasts
would begin we would see countless miracles and receive numerous blessings
because of the member’s sacrifices. The first area that I served in was a
Singles Ward during the 40 day fast we had many miracles most of which at the
time seemed to be a great deal of reactivation work. The 40 day fast laid a
great foundation for the ward and now a year and a half later the missionaries
are baptizing weekly. I know this is because of the member’s prayers and fasts.
I know that
it is truly a miracle that we have the knowledge of a Savior and that He knows and
loves us. Because we are mindful of His example and sacrifice we can strive to
be better each and every day.
The
second miracle that began with a prayer is that of the Restoration of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. After Jesus Christ was Resurrected and ascended into
Heaven He left His Apostles encharge of the church and the teachings. Over time
the Apostles were also rejected which left the world in a time of spiritual
darkness. The Priesthood Authority that Christ had given to His Apostles was
taken from the Earth. In Amos 8:11-12
describe this period of spiritual darkness as a famine. It reads, “ 11 ¶Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will
send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but
of hearing the words of the Lord: 12 And they shall wander from sea to
sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the
word of the Lord, and shall not find it.” What I love about this scripture is
that it describes this time as a famine. We know that a famine is just a
season. A famine ends. It wasn’t until the year 1820 when there was finally
religious freedom here in America that the Gospel of Jesus Christ could be restored.
There was a young boy, Joseph Smith. He was only 14 years old. He lived during
a time of religious excitement. He went to many different churches and wanted
to know which one he should join. He was raised in a good Christian home where
they were taught to read the Bible. He
was reading one day in the Epsitle of James first chapter fifth verse which
reads, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men
liberally and abraidth not and it shall be given him.” When Joseph read
that it pierced his heart. He lacked wisdom. He now knew he could pray and that
God would answer him. In the Spring of 1820 Joseph decided to do just that. He
went behind his house to a grove of tree and knelt to pray. This was the first
time he had ever offered a prayer out load. As I share Joseph Smith’s
experience in his own words I want you to pay attention to the feelings that
come to your mind and to your heart. I know that the Spirit witness to us
through those peaceful comforting feelings. Of his experience Joseph Smith
says, “ I saw a pillar of light, exactly
over my head, above the brightness of the sun. Which descended gradually until
it feel upon me, when the light rested upon me, I saw, two personages whose
brightness and glory deify all description, standing above me in the air. One
of them spake to me, calling me by name, and said pointing to the other, This
is my Beloved Son, Hear Him.” I know that Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father
and Jesus Christ. That was a miracle and it began with a simple heart felt
prayer. I know that this event occurred because of the feeling of the Spirit
and because I have prayed and received an undeniable answer from my Heavenly
Father. Joseph Smith also said of his
experience, “I
knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it.”
I had many
experiences where I was able to share Joseph Smith’s experience and my
testimony grew every time.
Once we were teaching a 19-year-old girl named
Samantha. She was dating a less active member of the church. Her parents hadn’t
taken a big role in her life growing up and never set a good example for her.
She had gone to many different churches but always felt like something was
missing. We went to teach her at her boyfriend, Cody’s, home. After we quoted
Joseph Smith’s own words of his experience praying, just as I have done for you
today, we asked her if she would pray to our Heavenly Father and ask Him if
what we shared with her really did occur. With tears running down her cheeks
she said, “I already know that this is true.” How could she already know? It
was because the Spirit witnessed to her of the truthfulness of our words in
that very moment. She felt the comfort and peace that only comes from our
Heavenly Father.
On
another occasion we were teaching a woman named Tamara. She was in her 40’s and
was a single mother. She had led a very rough life full drugs, drinking, and
bad relationships. She had one main question for us, after we shared Joseph
Smith’s vision with her... What did Joseph Smith say about what Christ looked
like? I had never been asked that question before and the other missionaries
there did not have an answer for her. But in that very moment the Spirit brought
to my remembrance these words quoted by Joseph
Smith and recorded in the document entitled “The Living Christ” “His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his
head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness
of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even
the voice of Jehovah” I was shocked as those words came out of my mouth.
I know that the only reason I was able to recall Joseph Smith’s words was
because my siblings and I had all memorized this document years ago. I am
forever grateful that I prepared for that moment without even knowing it. I
know the Spirit can only bring to remembrances those things we have already
studied and know.
I know that Joseph Smith restored the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. That Christ established His church while He was one the Earth but
that it was lost when His Apostles were rejected. The Authority was gone; it
was not on the Earth. No one could act in the name of Christ and receive
revelation for the church as a whole. Many people began to pick and choose
things to take away from the Bible. The complete truth was lost. A Restoration, not a reformation was needed,
of this Preach My Gospel says, “To
reform is to change what already exists; to restore is to bring back something
in its original form. Thus, restoration of priesthood authority through divine
messengers was the only possible way to overcome the Great Apostasy.”
But you
don’t have to take my word for it, or the missionaries word, or the leaders of
the church. We can each pray and come to know for ourselves of the truthfulness
of the Restored Gospel. We have been give the Book of Mormon, which is truly
another testimony of Jesus Christ.
The last Prophet to write in the Book of Mormon was
Moroni. He gave each and every person the same invitation to read, ponder, and
pray about the Book of Mormon. In Moroni
10:3-5 it reads,
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these
things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember
how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of
Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it
in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort
you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these
things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real
intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by
the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth
of all things.
The last miracle I want to share with you began
with a prayer that I offered to my Heavenly Father in 2012.
In August
2012 I began studying at Brigham Young University. Many of my friends there had
already served missions all over the world and others were preparing to serve.
Missionary work was always a topic that was brought up at every social
gathering. People would ask each other where they served or when they would be
serving. At the time I had been writing letters to several of my friends who
were serving missions. Missionary work was something that had been on my mind a
lot.
But it wasn’t
until October 5th 2012 that I really felt impressed that serving a
mission was something that was in my future.
October 5th was a Friday.
My roommates and I went to the temple that day. In order to go into the
temple I had to have a recommend, which is a paper that shows I am worthy to be
in this sacred place.
When we had
arrived at the temple I discovered that I had left my recommend back at our
apartment. My roommates of course said they would wait for me while I ran home
to get it. I have to say I was feeling kind of discouraged. It really wasn’t
that big of a deal to go back and get my recommend, but at the time it felt
like it was such an inconvenience for everyone and such a hassle to drive back
and forth. Regardless of these negative thoughts I recognized that it was
important to go to the temple. I knew that once I was there these feelings of
annoyance would fade right away.
As I sat in
the temple, missionary work crossed my mind. I was writing in my journal about
some of my friends who had just gotten home from their missions and some who
had just left. I was also thinking about my class schedule for next semester,
because I knew that I would have to sign up for classes in a couple of weeks.
With both of these seemingly unrelated thoughts running through my head, I made
a discovery that would truly changed my life. I wrote,
“I’ve been thinking a lot about if I should serve a
mission… If I am going to then I should probably start preparing. Actually- if
I plan to marry someone who has served a mission I should prepare anyways. So
that I can be as close to my Heavenly Father as my future companion will be. “
At that moment I
decided that whether or not I ended up serving a mission when I was 21 I would
still prepare myself physically, mentally, and spiritual. I decided that I
would take a Mission Prep class, which was offered at BYU the following
semester.
At this point in time
I knew that I would not be allowed to serve until I was 21. This was the
church’s policy and I respected that. Besides, I knew this would give me more
time to prepare myself.
As I sat and pondered
these knew thoughts and plans I was overcome with a comforting feeling that
assured me that everything would work out.
On October 6th 2012, the very
next day, the Prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, Thomas S. Monson, made an announcement that has changed many people’s
lives, including my own. He declared,
“That able, worthy young women who have the
desire to serve, may be recommended for missionary service beginning at age 19,
instead of age 21.”
As soon as I heard
these words that same feeling of comfort and love overcame me. This was a
second witness to me that I needed to serve a mission. Over the next several
months I prayed to my Father in Heaven and went to the temple every week. I
wanted to make sure that serving a mission was what He wanted for me at this
time in my life. I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that my Heavenly
Father wanted me to serve the people of the Nevada Las Vegas Mission.
I have been blessed with many experiences, which
provided countless confirmations of this through out my mission. I would like
to share a few with you today.
The first is about my best friend, whom I found on
my mission, her name is Kayla. When Kayla was in high school she had a couple
friends that were members of the church. They invited her to come to church
with them after a sleepover on Saturday night. Kayla had never really gone to
church, but didn’t want to be left at their house by her self. After going to
church with them she decided to meet with the missionaries and as a result
Kayla, her mom, and younger sister were all Baptized. However flash forward a
few years when I first met with Kayla in May of 2013. Neither herself, nor her
family were active members of the church. Kayla was living on her own and
decided she would like to learn about the gospel again and come back to church.
We started going by to see Kayla ever Tuesday and Thursday night. As we taught
her she began to regain the testimony that had dimmed. Kayla quickly came into
full activity. After several months Kayla decided that she needed to share the
joy of the gospel with others. She is now serving a mission in Louisiana. She
is influencing so many lives. Though going on a mission was not an easy
decision. While on her mission she wrote me this letter,
“I
knew that the church was true and that The Book of Mormon was the word of God,
but it might be fair to say that I didn't know much else. (I did, but I didn't)
As I have dedicated my time to the Lord, He has made more truths known unto me.
I don't wish that I would have waited longer, before serving. Had I of waited
longer, self-doubt would have ruined all possibility. My companion and I
watched The Restoration with a member the other day. In there it said that Joseph
Smith was called in his weakness. That really stood out to me. The Lord calls
most, if not all, of His servants in their weaknesses and qualifies them for
the work. I am one of those servants. I was indeed called in my weaknesses, but
each day I see the Lord's hand qualifying me for His work. I can honestly say
that I don't wish that I could go back and do this and that or this before
coming to serve, because I don't. The Lord called. I came. I came inadequate,
unprepared and with little knowledge, but I came and The Lord has qualified me.
The Lord knew who I was. He knew who I was when He called, but He called,
because He knew who I could become. I'm not entirely there, but I'm closer than
yesterday and tomorrow I'll be closer than today if I allow myself and give myself
to the work of the Lord.
Another
friend I found is named Lou. He is 73 years old. He grew up in Germany during
World War II and after escaping Germany went to live in Australia. He
eventually was able to come work in the United States. This was where he wanted
to be, because as a little boy he remembered the American soldiers and how good
they were to him. When working in the States he found that the head of the
company he worked for and many of his coworkers were LDS. He knew something was
different about them. He knew they loved and cared for their families. He
wanted what they had for his own family.
They would occasionally invite his family for a social event in their
homes. But never once did they invite Lou to church, or to learn about the
gospel. Years and years later he ended up moving to Boulder City to be closer
to one of his sons. I first knocked on Lou’s door in April. He let us right in
and we taught him about Joseph Smith. Several weeks went by before we could
meet with him again. During the hot Vegas Summer we were able to meet with Lou
every weekday at 3 o’clock. From the time I met Lou until August I had 7
different companions. Needless to say I was the only constant in our meetings
with him. But thankfully we had many different members of the local ward come
with us each day. I could tell you story after story about Lou and his
conversion. Like the time he first prayed, it was so pure. Or when he first
heard President Dieter F. Uchtdorf speak. Or when we helped him understand the
importance of coming to church. Or when we taught him how to read the Book of
Mormon. Or when he wanted his entire street to learn about the gospel. All of
these little experiences helped Lou’s testimony to grow. His desire to be baptized exactly like the
Savior was baptized grew as well. My
last Saturday in the area Lou was baptized. I know without a doubt that I was
sent to Boulder City to endure the trials I did, so that I could be an instrument
in The Lord’s hands to teach and uplift Lou. Lou is a ward missionary and he
working so hard to help his wife and children have a desire to be baptized. He
loves going to the Temple.
I’ve shared
experience about my mission and the people that I have come to know and love.
The last
experience I want to share with you is one that has truly made a lasting impact
on myself as well as my siblings. In
June this past year I began to have promptings concerning things I needed to
share with my little brother Kiger. One of them being the importance of doing
Family History. Elder David A Bednar, of
the quorum of the twelve Apostles, said concerning the need for youth to do
Family History, “I
promise you will be protected against
the intensifying influence of the adversary.” I
knew that was a promise from a servant of our Heavenly Father and a promise
that my siblings needed. I wrote to my brother via email in all capital letters
urging him to work on Family History. A week later he wrote me about the
miracle that occurred because of our prayers. “I've
been praying about family history. I haven't really known where to start but
thankfully I've had an answer to my prayers! One night last week an unknown
number called me and I didn't know if I should answer but at the last second I
pick up the phone and it was President Fronk! He told me that out of all the
stakes the church has selected 24 to start a new family history program. He
went on the say that the stake is starting a youth family history program with
new version and he wants me to head up the committee [and Breeze to be apart of
it too]!! It was amazing to get that call and see my prayers answered right in
front of my eyes! I know our prayers [are answered] in front of us all the time
but this one was just so apparent to me!”
Spencer W. Kimball said, “God does watch over us and does notice
us, but it usually through someone else that he meets our needs.”
I know that The Lord has perfect timing and that if I would have waited
even a few weeks of putting my papers in to receive my call I would have missed
out on these life changing and testimony building experiences.
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