"God is the Gardener"

Given June 13th, 2021 in the Provo, Utah 228th Ward

So, everything happens for a reason. At least that’s what they say. I’ve had a pretty blessed life, but even in the midst of those blessings are things that cause me to question why. Things I don’t really understand, and maybe they are insignificant, but I still wonder why. 

Today I want to talk to you a little bit about houseplants. For anyone who knows me, the topic of houseplants is not surprising. My parents have always loved gardening, and they passed that love on to me. What started as a few indoor plants, has now grown into a jungle.  I confess that I am one of those people who even has an Instagram for my houseplants. Being surrounded by plants has been a comfort to me during this stressful time of my life. 

So, now that you all know I’m a crazy plant lady, I want to tell you a few things that I have learned about plants that can totally apply to people too. Pinterest will tell you: “Don’t forget to drink water and get some sun. You’re basically a houseplant with more complicated emotions.” 

Here is some of what I have learned from plants:

• Imperfections are normal, and sometimes beautiful

• Growth can come when you least expect it. 

• Every plant is different and has different needs. 

• A good plant can come from anywhere

• Sometimes pests come and you have to get rid of them

• Love is important for growth

As cheesy as all this sounds, there is gospel truth in those plant lessons. You can probably recognize some of the gospel principles. Divine nature, charity, individual worth, and repentance to name a few. And I think that’s pretty amazing. 

This brings to mind the church video called “the Will of God” with Elder Christofferson’s talk about the currant bush. In the video, Elder Christofferson references a talk by Hugh B. Brown called “God is the Gardener.” 

This talk, given at BYU in 1968 by Elder Hugh B Brown says, “You sometimes wonder whether the Lord really knows what he ought to do with you. You sometimes wonder if you know better than he does about what you ought to do and ought to become. I am wondering if I may tell you a story that I have told quite often in the Church. It is a story that is older than you are. It’s a piece out of my own life, and I’ve told it in many stakes and missions. It has to do with an incident in my life when God showed me that he knew best.”

To briefly sum up, Hugh B Brown bought a farm and there was a giant, overgrown currant bush on the edge of the property, with no fruit. He knew a little about pruning so he cut it down to all stumps. When he was done, there seemed to be little tears coming out of each of the cut stumps, and he thought he heard the bush say, “How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. … And now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me. … How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.” 

Hugh B. Brown replied, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down.’”

His story goes on, but I’d like to share my own story, of a time on my mission, where I had to learn that God knows best.

It was the end of my mission. I was about to finish training a greenie and had 2 transfers left. I thought I knew the perfect ending for my mission, I had it all planned out and it was going to happen. I would finish training, leave the area I had been in for almost 6 months, and finish my mission strong in a new area for a perfect amount of time and with the perfect hard working companion. I bet God laughed and laughed at that. 

The last week of the transfer, my companion and I decided that we were going to have the best week ever. We planned it--wrote it down in our planners and everything. Then, of course, everything went wrong. First, another sister came to stay with us through an emergency transfer for the weekend. She was not the most obedient of missionaries and it kind of felt like we were dragging her around. She left after a couple days and we thought it was over. Wrong. Another emergency transfer, this time with another greenie from the zone next door. Apparently, some things had gotten out of hand and she needed somewhere else to go, so she came to stay with us for the week. I was like wow, this is definitely not the best week ever, but it’s fine because in a week I'll be transferred, and I’ll get a perfect companion in a perfect new area and I’ll put all this behind me. (Guess what didn’t happen). 

A few days before the transfer, President Silcox came to our zone to do routine interviews. I was still waiting to hear about transfers, but I was getting this feeling like I was not going to get what I had been praying for: which was an obedient, hard working companion to help me finish my last transfers strong. My fears were realized when President Silcox asked me to stay... stay with the emergency transferred companion, the troublemaker, the greenie, and to top it off I’d be staying in the area that I had been in for 6 months, that I was tired of….I told him I would stay, but my heart wasn’t in it. He then told me something I will never forget... He said he knew what I had been praying for, but that it wasn’t time yet. He told me it would come…but not yet. I knew that God had heard my prayers, but He had a different, better, plan for me. 

Just because I knew that God had a plan for me didn’t make that transfer any easier. It took me a couple of weeks to get over myself and start focusing on the work again instead of my prejudiced assumptions of my new companion. But I learned and grew just as much in that single transfer as I had in my entire mission before that. We saw miracles happen, not so much with our friends we were teaching, but in ourselves.

Before that transfer, I thought I had learned everything I needed to know. I was like the currant bush in the beginning of the story. I thought I was doing great and growing and that there wasn’t anything else I needed to do or be. Then I got cut down, and I asked God why? For too long I didn’t understand, for those first couple weeks I refused to understand, thinking that I still knew better and everything would have been perfect if things had just happened the way that I wanted them to--…that it was too hard…and I was too tired…so why did it have to happen this way? But now I can say, to the Gardener of our lives, to my Heavenly Father, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down, for caring enough about me to hurt me. Thank you, Mr. Gardener.’ 

I had so many more lessons to learn, that I never could have learned without that amazing companion that I didn’t even want but came to love. My last transfer I got my wish, I moved areas and was with the most obedient and hardworking companion I had ever seen, and she walked me to the bone and I finished my mission strong. I know God answers prayers. Maybe not in the way we think or want, or when we want, but we’re better for it. 

So, what does all this have to do with my plants? People are like houseplants but with more complicated emotions, remember? If people receive the right care, love, and support, they will thrive, just like plants. That happened with me and my companion that one transfer, and even after everything that happened in 2020, it’s happening now. Most of us, if not all, got cut back in some way in the last year, but we are growing back, slowly but surely. We are learning and becoming exactly who our Heavenly Parents intend for us to become. I’m still learning how to be thankful for all my experiences, good and bad, but through it all I know God loves me. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and He loves me. 

I strive to be like Nephi when he said to the Spirit of the Lord,  “I know that [God] loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.” (1 Nephi 11:17). The first thing I know is that God loves ALL of His children. I also know that with Christ, nothing is impossible. Things are working out exactly as planned.

Hugh B. Brown later says, “I wanted to tell you that oft-repeated story because there are many of you who are going to have some very difficult experiences: disappointment, heartbreak, bereavement, defeat. You are going to be tested and tried to prove what you are made of. I just want you to know that if you don’t get what you think you ought to get, remember, “God is the gardener here. He knows what he wants you to be.” Submit yourselves to his will. Be worthy of his blessings, and you will get his blessings.” 

Isaiah 55:8-9 reads, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

And I love what it says in the New Living Translation: “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”

I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows me, and who has a plan for me, greater than anything I could imagine. 

Recently Elder Uchtdorf said, “In a way, we are seeds. And for seeds to reach their potential, they must be buried before they can sprout. It is my witness that though at times we may feel buried by the trials of life or surrounded by emotional darkness, the love of God and the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ will bring something unimaginable to spring forth.”

I want to finish with a quote from my grandma, who passed away 2 years ago this week. She had a blog with some amazing stories. I won’t share the whole story, but I love her testimony of our Father’s love. 

She says, “Have you ever been blessed with a miracle? I was blessed with one not long after we were baptized. When it happened I knew that absolutely, somehow, from another place not of this sphere, someone cared enough about me to actually step in.”

After sharing her story of this miracle, she concludes with her testimony, “When I look back after all these years my heart fills with gratitude. I think of some of the lessons that very miracle taught this raggedy old convert. He IS our Father. He knows us and our struggles. He loves us. After we’ve done all we can, help will come. If we try to understand what’s right and do the right thing, help will come. We are not alone.

Miracles happen.”

Brothers and Sisters. I add my testimony to hers. God is good. I know this church is true. I know that if we study the words of the prophets, ancient and modern, we will come closer to God and be more like Jesus Christ. I know that all things testify of Christ. I know that if we keep our eyes open we can find important eternal truths all around us, even in the midst of a bunch of houseplants. And just like houseplants need water to live, we need the Living Water, even Jesus Christ. 

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

That They May See by Sister Bonnie H. Cordon

Given August 16, 2020 in the Surprise YSA branch

I was asked to base my remarks on the talk “That They May See” by Bonnie H. Cordon given in last April’s General Conference. I invite you to reread this talk and ponder the things she has taught. By studying and preparing for my talk, I have learned how to be a better disciple of Christ, how to be a better member missionary, and how to shine the light of Christ so that others can see. I hope and pray that we can all feel the Spirit and learn today.

Sister Cordon starts by talking about the light of Christ. She says, “Jesus Christ has called upon us to “let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (3 Nephi 12:16) I have come to love the phrase “that they may see.” It is an earnest invitation from the Lord to be more intentional about helping others see the path and thereby come unto Christ.”

She continues:“The Lord’s invitation to let our light so shine is not just about randomly waving a beam of light and making the world generally brighter. It is about focusing our light so others may see the way to Christ. It is gathering Israel on this side of the veil—helping others see the next step forward in making and keeping sacred covenants with God.”

I often asked myself while on my mission “Am I being a missionary 100% of the time?” and “How can I be a missionary 100% of the time?” I am no longer serving a full-time mission, but I still ask myself these questions. I testify that we can all be missionaries one hundred percent of the time by shining our light so that others can see the way to Christ.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, in his talk Waiting on the Road to Damascus, said that “the most effective way to preach the gospel is through example.” He continues, “If we live according to our beliefs, people will notice. If the countenance of Jesus Christ shines in our lives, if we are joyful and at peace with the world, people will want to know why. One of the greatest sermons ever pronounced on missionary work is this simple thought attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi: “Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words.” Opportunities to do so are all around us. Do not miss them by waiting too long on the road to Damascus.”

Actions speak louder than words.

Here is an example from my life. At the beginning of the year I had the amazing opportunity to work at Walt Disney World with my sister, Lauryn, as part of the Disney College program. It was an amazing learning experience and we had a lot of fun. 

One of the first things that I learned was that I wasn’t in Provo anymore. I love BYU so much but it is definitely a bubble that I had gotten comfortable in. Now I was in a completely different world with people from all over the world who had never even heard of the Church and everyone had their own--different--way of living. I also learned while I was there that I could do better at living what I believe and being a good example of the Church, especially if I was the only member they would meet there.

I wore my costume and my name tag every day for work, and underneath my name on my name tag, it said Brigham Young University, so even in that small way I was representing the Church and my Savior. 

I worked at Aloha Isle, home of the famous pineapple dole whips. They are still my favorite Disney treat. Customers are not always easy to deal with though, even at Disney World, maybe even especially at Disney World because the expectations are so high. So, naturally, I would get frustrated daily at customers. I would try to keep a smile on my face, but some days were more difficult than others. 

One day at work I remember another young cast member came up to me and told me about some “crazy” thing that a customer was complaining about, and I agreed and said other things that I am not proud of. I joined in complaining and being rude about the endless customers. Almost immediately I regretted what I had said, wishing I could take it back, but I could not.

Such a seemingly small thing, but now I think of something Elder Uchtdorf once said: “Sometimes a single phrase of testimony can set events in motion that affect someone’s life for eternity.” I could have been a more Christ-like example and been more positive that day. I know I am not perfect, and never will be on this earth, but I can try a little harder to be a little better. 

In contrast, there was one cast member that I worked with that I will probably remember forever because he was the most respectful and honest guy I met while at Disney World. He was also in the Disney College Program, from Louisiana and had exactly what I imagine southern hospitality looks like. Everyone noticed something different about him, something good. I didn’t get to know him very well, as our time there was cut short due to Covid, so I don’t even know if he was religious at all. All I know is    that I wished that I had acted more like him.     I never once heard him complain about customers    or do anything that made me question his integrity. All I know is    I wanted to know what made him act the way that he did.          I wanted to know how I could be more like him. 

That is what can happen to us when we live the gospel 100% of the time. I want people to look at me and the way I live and ask me what makes me different so that I can tell them about Jesus Christ. He is the reason. Some days are better than others, and I still have a long way to go and so much to learn.

We can start by sharing the gospel with those around us, those closest to us.

My mission changed me in a lot of ways. My siblings will tell you that before my mission I was bossy, controlling, rude, and unkind most of the time. They told me after I had gotten home that the worst insult they would throw at each other when I was gone had been “You’re acting just like Kenzie!” Ouch. I had so much to learn before my mission. 

 

One day not too long after my return, my younger brother and I were driving to our grandma’s house. Before my mission, we had had a bumpy relationship, filled with a lot of hate and resentment. We were both trying to figure out where the other one stood, now that I was back after being away for so long. I asked him about a mission, when he was going to go and if he even wanted to. He told me that I was different now, that I had changed. That I was nicer, and that he wanted to go on a mission and change too. That was pretty much all he said, and I knew that he meant it. And now he is faithfully serving a mission in Washington, DC North.

What caused my drastic change?   My mission allowed me to study the words of the ancient and modern prophets like never before. I talked of Christ, I rejoiced in Christ, and I preached of Christ every single day to anyone and everyone that would listen. I strove to devote my whole life to God for those 18 months. I believe that the main cause for my mighty change was my personal scripture study. Because of those words, spoken by the Lord through His prophets, I    was     changed. I had experienced a mighty change of heart as the Book of Mormon prophet Alma testified (Alma 5:14, 26). When I came home, I was a different person. I didn’t really recognize the change at first, but my family did.

It’s been almost 5 years since I returned from my mission, and Alma is still asking me and all of us: “if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?” (Alma 5:26)

The mighty change I experienced was not automatically permanent. Just because I studied and taught the gospel daily five years ago doesn’t mean that I can still feel that change today if I don’t do anything about it. Now I am a different person than I was when I returned from my mission. My life is different now, and I am trying to share the gospel in a different way than I did as a full-time missionary. I am not perfect, but I try to incorporate the scriptures into my daily life. I am trying to maintain my mighty change of heart by living the gospel daily.

It is not easy being a missionary 100% of the time, but I testify that as we study the scriptures and the words of the modern prophets and strive to come closer to Christ daily, we will have more of His light in our lives and others will notice.

Sister Cordon spoke directly to me after sharing a few great examples of other people when she said “Now, in case you are thinking, “These are great 1,000-watt examples, but I’m a 20-watt bulb,” remember that the Savior testified, “I am the light which ye shall hold up.” He reminds us that He will bring the light if we will just point others to Him.”

In order for our light to shine, we need to turn on the light. We need to bring the “Light of the World” into our lives, every single day. We do that by acting as the Savior did. Jesus Christ testified, “Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you.” (3 Nephi 18:16) 

So even though I falter, I can rely on my Savior and follow His example. Day by day I will be better, and I will be more like Jesus Christ.

Going back to what Sister Cordon said about the phrase “that they may see.” She says “it is an earnest invitation from the Lord to be more intentional about helping others see the path and thereby come unto Christ.” I love the phrase “earnest invitation.” Just as Christ asks us to come, follow Him, He also asks us to feed His sheep, to proclaim good tidings of peace, and to let      our         light          SHINE.

Sister Cordon pleads, “You and I have enough light to share right now. We can light the next step to help someone draw nearer to Jesus Christ, and then the next step, and the next.”

Thankfully, we all have someone who we can look up to and learn from, who is perfect. The only perfect and sinless person on earth. We can be perfected in Him. I am so grateful for a Savior, a Redeemer, an Advocate and Mediator. I know Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World and His Atonement allows us to repent daily, to come closer to Him and our Father, and to bring Light into our lives. I testify that we can be missionaries 100% of the time as we study the scriptures and the words of all of the Lord’s prophets and strive to apply them to our lives. I testify that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, it is true. I testify that there is a Prophet on the earth today that leads us and shows us the way. I believe these things, and I strive to live what I believe, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

\

The Great Worth of Souls

Another talk given with the help of my amazing grandma, Kathy Wagher. I am so grateful for all the amazing women in my life that have taught me how to be a better person.

The Great Worth of Souls

November 17, 2019

Good morning, brothers and sisters. Today I have been asked to speak on a topic that I probably could never stop talking about if anyone stayed here long enough to listen. But I have decided against putting you all to sleep and have instead chosen to focus my thoughts a little bit. I was given the scripture found in Doctrine and Covenants 18 verse 10

Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

There are so many different ways that I could go in my talk with this scripture alone. Divine worth, individual worth, Heavenly Father’s love, loving one another, and so on. This is why I could talk about this forever, and I do want to briefly touch on all these topics. 

First I would like to share a quote from the talk “You Matter to Him” By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf that reminds us about the worth of souls. He says, 

“This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God. While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. We have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation—worlds without end—within our grasp. And it is God’s great desire to help us reach it.”

God sees who we are and all that we can become. 

Now I’d like to share a little story. My grandma was a blogger. She wrote down many stories and life lessons that my family and I have cherished. One of her stories is about my mom and something she did on a family vacation to Disneyland a few years ago.

The story is called, Kim’s Hyacinth, and it starts off with a poem:

If of all the world's goods thou art bereft,

And to thee alone but two loaves of bread are left,

Sell one, and with the dole,

Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.

My grandma then writes, “Each was instructed to buy a “hyacinth” on the trip.  It was explained that hyacinths are flowers but theirs might look like a churro or Minnie Mouse keychain. Kim (my mom) said it was great for each kid to have a little to spend without having to ask.

Then today she told me about her "chrysanthemum" as she called it.  It took me a while to figure out what she was talking about.

It seems they had stopped at the beach on the day before they were to go to the parks. The kids all ran out to the ocean while she stayed at the van to make sandwiches. Hard at work she looked up to see a bedraggled woman pass by on the sidewalk. She looked worn down and possibly homeless. Kim thought of her $10 of hyacinth money and ran with it to give to the woman. She actually had to chase her. The lady was so grateful it broke Kim's heart. So she touched the woman gently and asked her if she was hungry. Kim explained that she was making sandwiches and she had turkey and cheese or peanut butter and jelly. Would she like one? The lady said she'd like peanut butter and jelly.

Kim went back to make it.

While she was spreading peanut butter and jelly she said something very special happened.  It was almost like a voice actually spoke to her.

She heard, "You're making that sandwich for me."

She started to cry.

She didn't know what else to do.

So, still crying, she put more peanut butter.

Then she made up a little bag of "kid treats" to go with it.  Raisins, Vienna sausages, and the like. She took it and the sandwich to the lady.

I'm so grateful for my children.

They're all trying to live the truths of the gospel.

Larry and I may be raggedy old converts but our kids are covering up a multitude of our sins.

Sometimes with peanut butter and jelly.

May Heavenly Father always bless and protect them while they do what they can.

May He always bless and protect you and your efforts too.”

I can recall many times that my mother would invite someone who happened to be passing by to our family picnics, offering them food and whatever else we had to give.

“Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;”

When we don’t focus on people’s outward appearance, we can see their true worth and divine potential. We are all children of God, and I am so grateful for my mother for teaching me that. 

Another thing I learned from this story is about the hyacinths for the soul. So in the poem you’re left with 2 loaves of bread, like that’s all you have, 2 loaves of bread. I love bread so I’d just want to eat both of them, as any hungry person might. But the poem says to sell one, and use that money to buy Hyacinths to feed the soul. 

I have learned, by observing my mother and from my own experience, that service is the kind of thing that feeds your soul. The semesters that I chose to ‘take a break’ and ‘focus on myself’ did not go as well as I thought or expected them to. I found that when I took time each week to volunteer at a local elementary school or tutor at the detention center or go to the temple I was happier and I had better grades, despite having less time to study. When we remember that the worth of souls is great in the sight of God, we have a greater desire to serve, and I think it’s because we love our Heavenly Father, and we know that when we are in the service of our fellow beings, we are only in the service of our God, just as King Benjamin taught.

Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.

I have greater understood the meaning of this scripture as I have worked with various types of teenagers: I was an EFY counselor, I work at a youth crisis center and I volunteer at a juvenile detention center. Teenagers aren’t the most fun people to be around all the time, but I have gained a lot of patience and have learned to love all my interactions with youth. Sometimes it is hard to see a person as God sees them when they have done horrible things or when they are annoying or if they have different values than you. The first day I started at EFY and my current job and my first day at the detention center I definitely had doubts about those kids and my ability to befriend and love them. However, I have learned to greatly appreciate the power of proximity when it comes to seeing someone’s true worth. 

One of my favorite authors, Bryan Stevenson, wrote in his book, Just Mercy, these words:

“Proximity has taught me some basic and humbling truths, including this vital lesson: Each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done.

When we take the time to talk and get to know a person, it is so much easier to understand, relate to and love them. Bryan Stevenson put it beautifully when he said, “There is a strength, a power even, in understanding brokenness, because embracing our brokenness creates a need and desire for mercy, and perhaps a corresponding need to show mercy. When you experience mercy, you learn things that are hard to learn otherwise. You see things you can't otherwise see; you hear things you can't otherwise hear. You begin to recognize the humanity [and I’d like to add, Light of Christ] that resides in each of us.”

Brent H. Neilson said, “All of us fall short of the glory of the Father. All of us need the Savior’s Atonement to heal us. All of us are lost and need to be found.” 

When that week of EFY was over, I loved every single one of those kids. I had been with them almost every hour of every day for a week and I could see their potential for greatness. After volunteering a few times at the detention center, I realized that those boys were just people, deserving of love and kindness, and they quickly became my friends. 

Proximity. Is. Powerful.

So please, remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.

Heavenly Father wants ALL of His children to return to live with Him. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and that He died and rose again so that I can be with my family forever, so that everyone can live with their families forever. I know that I am a daughter of loving Heavenly Parents and that I have divine worth and unlimited potential. I’m grateful for the amazing people in my life that have taught me the true ability of service to help me recognize the great worth of souls.

The Power of the Book of Mormon

I gave a talk this past Sunday at church and of course it's about missionary work, so I thought it would be good to post on here. Enjoy!

 ~~~~~

The Power of the Book of Mormon

 I was asked to speak today about the power of the Book of Mormon. I tried to think of some crazy amazing experience that I’ve had but I couldn’t think of one in particular. My experiences with the Book of Mormon have been more like small and simple things that can bring to pass great things. I know that it is true. I know that it is the word of God written down by the prophets of old and translated in this dispensation by the prophet Joseph Smith. When I read the Book of Mormon daily I am happier and more Christ like. I would like to tell a story about my dad though, and his first experiences with the Church and the Book of Mormon.

 First of all, I love my dad. He’s a convert to the church, the only member of his family and I don’t think I have thanked him enough for choosing to be baptized and enduring to the end. Recently, my little sister who left on a mission asked my dad to tell his conversion story, something that I had not heard all the way through. I mean, I knew some of the basics but not a lot of the details. My dad isn’t really a talker. So thankfully my dad wrote it down for her in a letter and my mom made copies for all the kids. Before this, I knew he was 26 years old living in a trailer in front of his friend’s house when he started looking for a church to go to. He had grown up going to the Lutheran church and visited some other churches since but he wasn’t interested in any of them. So he decided to pray. He had never prayed out loud before but that’s exactly what he decided to do: ask God which church he should go to. A couple of days later the missionaries started showing up at his friends house! An answer to prayers right?! Well my dad said he wasn’t interested. So he was still praying to find the right church and they showed up again! And again he said no. Then one day he said yes and he got baptized! And that’s pretty much all I knew, until my dad wrote it all down (importance of journaling, folks!). I want to read you a bit of what he wrote. I’m gonna start right after he rejected the missionaries the first time.

 “A few days later, maybe a week, I still hadn’t found a church to go to, so I kneeled down again and asked God to help me find a church and have a better life. And again the missionaries knocked on the door of my friend’s home when I was the only one there. I answered the door and said “hello again.” They asked if my friends were home. I told them no and they asked me if I wanted to hear a message. I said “no thanks, maybe some other time” and said goodbye. I know what you’re thinking, I pray, they come, I pray, they come, but I did not catch on.

 About a week later, I got home from work and needed to work on my car. I hadn’t noticed that the missionaries had come by. My friend was home and invited them in to talk. I had some car parts in my hand when I went around to a side door that went out onto the deck. I was using a hose just off the deck when I saw the missionaries sitting on chairs and my friend sitting on the couch. I opened the door and said “hello, what’s up?” My friend, Susan, said “these young ladies are talking about Jesus and His gospel”. I said “cool” and told them that I was working on my car. I went back to my project. I finished up and went back to my friend’s living room and they were still talking!

 I asked if I could sit in and they said yes, but were just finishing up. They invited both of us to come to church on Sunday. They met at 1pm in Monroe, my home town. It was about 15 minutes away. We both said we had to work on Sundays, usually till 3 or 4 (we both worked at the same restaurant and I worked at the bakery too.)

 They asked if they could bear their testimonies. I had never heard of this and didn’t know what they meant. My friend said “of course,” (she was very nice all the time and to everyone.) Sister Henry, from Idaho, gave us her testimony. I had never heard anyone talk like this before. I don’t remember much of what she said, but I did feel it. She talked about growing up on a farm and sometimes having to feed baby sheep, lambs, I guess, with bottles and relating this in some way to Jesus, saying “feed my sheep.”And that THAT was what she was doing in Clearview, Washington, FEEDING HIS SHEEP. They asked if they could come back and my friend made some excuses, but that if she was home and they knocked she would let them in.

 A week went by and I was thinking about that testimony of Sister Henry’s. A week or two later on a Sunday, I was working at the bakery and just after noon I finished up. The boss didn’t have anything extra for me to do so he sent me home. I got home at 12:30. I thought to myself, “Maybe I should check out that Mormon church.” I didn’t have much time, but I put on my best clothes and got to church about 1:05. When I walked in they were singing a hymn, when they finished everyone got up like they were leaving. I seriously thought I had missed it. A ten minute service was kinda cool, if not too quick. I looked around and the people sitting around me started introducing themselves to me… The missionaries finally noticed and came over and explained what was happening. They had sacrament meeting last hour…

 Again, I don’t remember what was talked about, but everyone was very nice. The ward mission leader took me to priesthood, where I stood up and introduced myself. Lots of people asked questions about where I lived and worked and why I was there… I really enjoyed priesthood, there were a lot of real men sitting around, discussing the gospel and how to really apply it in their lives. I had never been in a situation like that, ever. It was amazing. From there we went back in to the chapel… This must have been the first Sunday in September 1991 because it was fast sunday. Someone in the Bishopric talked a little bit, and then two of the young men got microphones from the front and stood facing us. When someone stood up, the closest boy would run to them and hand them the microphone. They started telling stories and saying that they believed in this church and the Book of Mormon. I remembered Sister Henry in my friend’s living room had said something similar. I could not believe the overwhelming feeling of the Holy Ghost almost filling me entirely up. I had never been in a church meeting and had these feelings. I was laughing and crying and almost in awe of the ease with which these people were talking about God and Jesus Christ and their tender feelings of a spiritual event in their lives, just right there in church in front of everyone.

 I did know that all the people I met were good people and the men were real men, and I wanted to be a ‘real man.’ I truly wanted to be like them and have families like theirs. I hadn’t really been around real men with real families, and everyone seemed happy. I spent the next two months meeting with the missionaries in the Richards’ home… I don’t remember all the lessons but I do remember thinking “yes, yes that’s what I think.”

 My dad got baptized on November 12th. He finishes his story by saying, “I am grateful for missionaries, that they do something like knock on doors of people they don’t know, tell them their innermost thoughts and invite them to church. Complete strangers. I’m grateful for missionaries who listen to the Spirit and not to the dumb kid standing in the doorway saying “no thanks.” … Thank God for all missionaries.”

 I know that missionary work would not be possible without the Book of Mormon. I know that the Book of Mormon can teach boys how to be ‘real men’ like my dad saw in church that fast Sunday, and it can teach girls how to be strong women, just like I see in church every Sunday. I know that it teaches us to “not esteem one flesh above another” and to “preach of Christ and talk of Christ and prophecy of Christ.” It teaches us to defend our beliefs and fight for what is right. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and the moment you begin a serious study of that book “a power will begin to flow into your life,” just as President Benson once said.

 In one of the last talks given by President Thomas S. Monson in April 2017, he invited each of us to gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon and said “My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives.”

 I love this gospel and all that it teaches me. I am grateful for the 18 months that I had to testify of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon and that I can continue to testify of its truthfulness. I know that the Book of Mormon has the power to change your life and the lives of generations to come. Read the book daily and feel the power come into your life.

 I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

 ~~~~~

 Citations 

  The Power of the Book of Mormon By President Thomas S. Monson

  The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion by Ezra Taft Benson

Alma 37:6-7
2 Nephi 25:26
Mosiah 23:7
Alma 46

Charity in Brazil

I gave a talk in church today about charity, and it brought back a lot of memories of my mission. My mission has changed my life, and I am so grateful for all that I have learned. So here it goes:

My talk today is about Charity. Charity has easily become one of my favorite topics to study. I love learning about charity so much and it is something that I strive to have more of each day.

The very first thing that I think of when charity is mentioned (besides Jesus) is an old companion from my mission. First let me just describe this wonderful sister to you. This Sister was suuuuuper tiny and so baby-faced she was often mistaken for my daughter. We became companions her second transfer and close to my last. She had actually been emergency transferred to me for various reasons (none good) the last week of her first transfer and we ended up staying together, (ain’t it funny the way the Lord works). So, long story short I had heard the rumors about all kinds of disobedient things she’d done and I thought I knew everything about her. I was doubtful that she was going to change for the better so I was just gonna do the best I could to work hard and show her how it was done. But one thing that I noticed right away about this “wayward” sister was the ginormous amount of charity that she had in her little body. She literally (Literally!) would’ve given the shirt off of her back if she saw someone with a need for it. She was constantly out of her mission allowance money because she had spent it buying baby diapers for an investigator or paying someone else’s bus fair and I constantly had to bail her out. I told you that Charity has become a favorite topic of mine to study, but back then I thought that walking the streets in the hot, humid summers sharing the gospel with strangers was charitable enough. There were countless times that my companion would give everything she had, and sometimes try to give things that she didn’t even have, to others, complete strangers even. 

Here’s an example for you: As a missionary in São Paulo Brazil we sisters always tried to have an umbrella, because it could be sunshine one hour and pouring rain the next. Now I’ve told you a bit about this Sister, and I absolutely love her now, despite how crazy she made me. I remember those short six weeks with this Sister quite clearly. There was a night in particular that we were walking around going door to door trying to get someone to let us in and out of the rain. We weren’t having any luck, but as we were walking we passed by an older woman walking home with a battered, broken umbrella with the rain dripping through onto her clothes. My companion immediately offered to trade umbrellas with the lady, who accepted. We tried to start a conversation with her, but she declined and we kept walking. As we walked we saw someone else walking in the rain, this time without an umbrella, and my companion then offered all that she had to him: the measly, battered umbrella she had traded for. But I couldn’t let him take the broken one so I offered mine instead, and then we ended up walking home soaking wet trying to share the useless umbrella.  I remember being a little bitter that my companion was so nice and wondering why she had to offer our umbrellas so we had to walk home in the rain. I had a lot to learn.

Thankfully, I changed my attitude and repented. After many similar instances of service and love, I soon began to wonder how I could judge her for having broken mission rules when I was ignoring the words of my Savior, when He said “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity,    ye     are      nothing,   for charity NEVER faileth (except maybe when we choose to ignore it and be selfish). Wherefore CLEAVE unto charity, which is the greatest of all…”

I remember the very day that I began to realize the importance of charity in my life, and this day contains a moment for which I am very ashamed of, and has been one of my biggest regrets. My companion and I were walking along the crowded city streets of São Paulo, probably walking to an appointment of some kind, when a woman stopped us and asked us for one Real to be able to go across the street to a place that gave meals to the homeless for just that much. (Just to give you an idea, one Real was worth about 30 cents when I was serving.) My kind companion searched in her bag and didn’t have any money to give her, but she literally told this lady that if she had it, she would give it to her. Now here is what I am so ashamed of: I had one Real in my bag that day, more than one even, that I could have given to her. I could have easily reached into my bag and handed her that one Real so that she could buy a decent meal. But I rationalized with myself, as I recited our missionary spiel, that if this lady joined the church then we would be able to help her, or that if I gave her money then I would have to give every homeless person money or that this lady might buy drugs with the money or whatever it was that I was thinking. And when she did not accept our offer to teach her, we walked away-- my companion with a clear conscience, and me-- me?-- Not so much. I know that maybe it wasn’t a big deal, and maybe we shouldn’t give money to every homeless person that asks...but I am now haunted by the scripture in Matthew 25 that reads “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me NO meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me NO drink...Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it NOT to one of the least of these, YE DID IT NOT to me.”

Beloved Thomas S. Monson was known for his countless acts of service and his charitable nature. He once said “I have always considered myself as a bishop who erred on the side of generosity; and if I had it to do again, I would be even more generous.” Can you imagine all that President Thomas S. Monson did for others? And he’s saying that he would have done more! He wished he had given even more to those who need it. I, on the other hand, have not considered myself to be the most generous, but ….if I had it to do all over again...I would be more generous. I would give EVERYTHING that I have, until all that I do have are wet clothes and a clear conscience.

I am not perfect, but I am slowly but surely learning what it means to have charity, the pure love of Christ. Having charity does not mean that we need to give all of our money to strangers. I have learned from my experiences that to have charity is to have the love of God in our hearts. We all know the primary song and the scripture that it is based on, John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” So having charity means that we see everyone as a child of God, as our family. And what wouldn’t you do for YOUR family?

I want to be the kind of person that my companion was to me. I want to inspire others to serve and be more Christlike.  I hope and pray that we can all be more like our Lord and Savior and give to those that are in need, and love all of God’s children with our whole hearts.
And I say that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Mission Tips for Brazil (São Paulo East Mission)

So I have been home almost 2 months now, and it has been great to be with my family and share all my experiences with those who I love the most. Now I would like to share what I learned and what was useful to me on my mission.

How to Prepare/ What to Bring

1. Study Preach My Gospel!! Read chapter 3 especially because that is what you will be teaching every single day. Get to know the lessons before the MTC and you won’t be so stressed out. Study the scriptures as much as you can before you leave because even as a missionary you don't have the time to study and learn all that you want to. I wished I had studied more of PMG and the scriptures before my mission.
2. Study the language. When I opened my call to a portuguese speaking mission I was shocked. I knew it would be very hard to learn another language, so I started studying early. I used Duolingo, Pimsleur and I was lucky to have a member in my ward who had served in Brazil years earlier as a tutor. I wasn’t fluent when I entered the MTC but I was way more prepared because I had already studied the basics. The language was one less thing I had to stress about in the MTC. And believe me, the MTC can be stressful—learning a new language in 6 weeks, not being able to understand what anyone is saying fully, trying to adjust to all the rules, to being away from family, culture shock and whatever else might be happening in your life. So doing that really helped me to take more out of my MTC experience. So try and study whatever you can in the language.
3. Memorize D&C 4 and the first vision before the MTC. Like I said, one less thing to stress about in the MTC.
4. Pray for confirmation that your call came from God. Heavenly Father answers our prayers and He will tell you that what you are doing is right. I know that my mission is the best mission in the world–for me. You might think a different mission is the best, but it is wherever you are called. I know that we are called to a place for a reason. You have someone to teach in that area or you have something to learn. The plan of God is amazing and perfect.
5. Bring hangers! Some people say you don’t need to because missionaries leave them at the houses, well that is a lie. I hardly ever found hangers in my houses and I was glad that I had brought some with me. Just the skinny metal ones will work.
6. Shoes are way more important than clothes!! Especially in Brazil, it is hard to find good shoes that will last more than a month with all the walking that missionaries do. I brought 5 pairs of cheap (20-30 bucks) walking shoes with me and I had walked right through 3 of them by the end. My favorite shoes that lasted my entire mission (I alternated shoes a lot too, that helps) I bought at Ross for 20 dollars. And I almost didn't bring them because I thought they were ugly. But I am so glad that I brought them. You really never know what shoes will last until you walk a lot in them, so bring a lot of different shoes, unless you already have walked a lot in them.
7. Don't bring anything you really want to keep, and don’t bring too much stuff. You go on a mission with one thing and come home with another. You will get sick of your clothes, you will leave them at missionary houses or give them away. I also bought a lot of clothes on my mission. So if you want something for when you come back from your mission, leave it at home. You will come back with souvenirs and new clothes to spare.
8. Bring your own music player. I bought a little pitt bull speaker that has 4 gigs on it and it was great. I put music and conference talks during my mission as well. No one has cd players and everyone puts music on thumb drives. I love music and it was perfect to listen to good, uplifting efy music on the hard days.
9. Bring stain remover. Really helpful when accidents happen. The instant tide stick is good and then the spray for home washing.
10. If you like the deodorant you use here, then bring extra. Deodorant in Brazil is very different, mostly people use spray kind. They do have pads and tampons (less common) so don't worry about bringing an 18 months supply. They also have regular Toothpaste and shampoo brands, don’t need to stress.
11. Bring lots of sunscreen! And lots of bug spray! You will not be sad to have an abundance of these two items.
12. Bring scripture markers, colored pencils or markers and pens. They come in super handy with all the studying missionaries do.
13. Bring the little, yet important, stuff, such as: tape, duct tape (they didn't have any in Sao paulo and I wish I had had some), super glue, good scissors, small sewing kit, small stapler, hole puncher and hand sanitizer. I had to buy some of these things on the mission but they all came in handy when I needed them.
14. Buy a waterproof bag/backpack. Super important! It rains a lot in Sao paulo and unless you want all your scriptures ruined, waterproof is the way to go.
15. Bring some American sweets with you. My mom had sent me a package in the Provo MTC full of good snacks that I took with me to Brazil and they lasted me more than half of my mission. Peanuts, almonds, banana chips, jam, beef jerky, skittles, peanut butter and redvines are almost impossible to come by in Brazil. So bring yourself a little something to cheer you up on the hard days.
16. Bring pictures of your family, including Jesus Christ. Bring the pictures and the quotes that you love to decorate your study space. It's small but makes a big difference.
17. Bring thank you cards, post it notes (big and small, like the tabs), and paper to write letters home. It always came in handy to have a little notepad or thank you card on hand to give to a member or investigator.
18. Again—study the gospel!! Gain and strengthen your testimony BEFORE you leave. Study the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and Preach my Gospel. The activities in PMG are really good and help you to learn a lot. Study the nourishing word of God as much as you can!