Well, this week has been different! Monday night to Tuesday night, we were on exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders. (The Sister Missionary version of a Zone Leader). Sister Wallace came to our area, and I went to Riverton with Sister Inman. It was weird being apart from Sister Cruz and out of my area. We definitely had some interesting experiences, including a fellowshipper going on about how he’s not sure if he killed people as a teenager….it was a very off-topic lesson. We both just walked out of that lesson going “what just happened?!”. But I learned a lot from her, and was even able to teach her a teaching object lesson that Sister Cruz had taught me!
Thursday we had a dinner appointment with this sweet Chinese sister who served us traditional Chinese food. We picked what we wanted and dumped it in this pot of boiling water at the table, then we’d fish it out with these little nets. It was fun.
Friday was a big adventure! We had Weekly Planning (3 hours where we plan for the next week), and then we went to our Mission Musical Fireside. We ate dinner as a mission, then went over to rehearse at the Alpine Tabernacle. (For my Logan friends, it’s about the same era as the Logan Tabernacle. Really historic.) We rehearsed, and then everyone came. We invited all of our recent converts, less actives, and investigators, but only the Morta’s came. It was good to at least have them there though!! We performed our mission song (Send Me), and recited The Living Christ as a mission. I only have about ¾ of it memorized, but I’m trying to get it all memorized by the end of the transfer. It is a powerful declaration!! The President of UVU, who is also Elder Holland’s son, President Matt Holland, spoke as well. The UVU institute choir sang with us. It was all about the Restoration of the Church. Really cool!!
Saturday I woke up sicker than sick….half the mission was sick the night before, and I managed to catch it. Just a 24 hour stomach bug, but I was SO sick. I nearly cried, because Saturday was also the baptisms of Brother Selds and Annie. I missed my first two baptisms!! :’( I was sad that I wasn’t there, but as long as THEY were there, that’s all that matters! They both went well, and I was able to attend Annie’s confirmation yesterday, so that was special.
Yesterday we went to dinner at the King’s house. Brother King is the Ward Mission Leader of the ward that both Brother Selds and Brian attend. His wife is awesome. (She informed me that my Grizzlies are state champs! Way to go, guys!! Basketball is next! J ) We had a discussion first based off of what one of their sons learned in Sunday School. The basis scripture is a little scary, but bear with me!
2 Peter 2
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
"Pernicious" is an adjective that means: "Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way." The example that the dictionary uses is "The pernicious influences of the mass media"
Now, let's think about this. In the last 5 years or so especially, the phrase "truth shall be evil spoken of" has definitely come to pass. The Church's positions on same sex marriage, abortion, drugs, pornography, and many other things are being bashed by the world. The thing is, it's not the Church's position.....it's the Lord's position, because it's His Church. Satan is desperately trying to convince everyone that God's position is wrong.
Moroni 7
16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
This scripture is wonderful, because there's a 100% accurate way to tell if something is from Heavenly Father, or from Satan. If it helps you come closer to Christ, it’s of God, and if it doesn’t, it’s of the devil! Pretty simple, right!? I invite you to consider the decisions you make and stands you take with this in mind. Stay on the Lord’s side!!
The Church is true, and I’m so blessed to be a representative of Jesus Christ in this area!! I pray that you all are doing well!!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! (We’re eating with the Kings and their extended family, who have varying views on the Church.) Taylor family members, I expect lots of pictures and stories!!
Love,
Sister Taylor
Pictures:
Maddie Morta doesn’t like reading, but Sister Cruz and I both do. We recommended a few books to her, and she was sitting after the fireside totally engrossed in one of them! We were like proud parents!
Some of the Sisters in my district at the fireside.
A cool chalk drawing we found on a board at a chapel. Remember this as we head into the Christmas Season!!
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