Hope:)

This was a very chill week, nothing too crazy happened. But my personal study this week was hope! I loved what I learned!

Here are a couple of talks that were my favorite!

- the infinite power of hope (Uchtdorf Oct 2008)

- a time for hope (Kapp 1986)

- the light of hope (Young 1986)

The first thing that I learned, is that "hope is sure, unwavering, and active" (Gospel topics, Hope). We can have hope that are day will become better, time will pass faster, or a dessert will turn out perfectly... if your me... but those things aren't sure- but our hope in our Savior Jesus Christ can be! Each and every one of us are guaranteed a life better than this one in one of the three kingdoms of glory, and we are already provided with a sure way of remaining clean to be able to return to live in our Heavenly home again with our Beloved Father in Heaven! In a talk called "Brightness of Hope" from 1994 it shares this, "having ultimate hope does not mean that we will always be rescued from proximate problems, but we will be rescued from everlasting death." This is what our hope is all about- it is the confident expectation of and longing for the promised blessings of righteousness! 

But why should we have hope? In the conference talk above by Young, it says " the Lord wants us to be filled with hope- not because it points us to a brighter tomorrow, but because it changes the quality of our lives today!" I challenge each of you to think of the things that you hope for, write them down, and remember them! We have so much in this life to be hopeful for because of our Loving Heavenly father and the plan he made for us, as well as our beloved brother, Jesus Christ, who paid for the price of our sins! Let me know what you are hopeful for! It doesn't have to be anything gospel related- just fill your day with hope! One last quote I loved- "the things we hope for sustain us during our daily walk. They uphold us through trials, temptations, and sorrow" (Uchtdorf). I know that when we have hope, we will be able to endure all as we continue to grow! 

This week we also started our zone conference- we learned about the blessings of being obedient, and the blessings we receive through receiving our endowment! Here is one thought that I specifically liked: our will is the only thing that us uniquely ours due to agency- so the only thing that we can give to him that isn't already his, is our obedience and love! 

Last spiritual thought haha- my favorite scripture this week has been 2 Nephi 4:26!

"O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?" 

I just invite you all to ponder this scripture in your hearts for a moment and decide what these words mean to you, and how you can apply them in your life!

Missionary work wise, this week was a lot of calling- since a lot of our lessons fell through- we had a good lesson with a guy on date who really wants to be baptized, found some new people to teach. This week I have also been taking advantage of what I call closet prayers! Each morning I dedicate 7-10 minutes of my personal study to a whispered Prayer in my closet haha- It is my one time that I can say a personal prayer out loud! And I just let the Holy spirit tell me what to say- I love it, and it is a great way to start my day! I reccomend you all try it! Go to a place where no one will go for a while, without a specific thing in mind to pray for and let the spirit guide you! Let me know how it goes!

My question for this week is because of Mormon 5:11: What is it like to be "clasped in the arms of Jesus?"

I love you all so dearly! And I hope that you recognize the possibility of hope in your lives! Our pains and afflictions will last only a short moment, and sooner than we all think, if we all follow the loving example of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we will be in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father! I know that being hugged by my earthly parents are such a safe, secure, and loving feeling- so I have no doubt that the feelings we will feel when we are embraced by our loving Father in Heaven will be immeasurable joy!