Gold Is Found In Simplicity

This week went by like a snap! And it was such a go go go week! This week I studied diligence!

Here are my favorite talks from the week:

- Act in all Diligence (Eyring April 2010)

- Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it (Clayton April 2017)

- Eternal Marriage (Howard April 2003)

- The Marriage that Endures (Hinckley April 1974)

I got to study Marriage a little this week, because an investigator asked about it- I'll tell you a funny story about him later!!

There was a day this week, where I woke up and didn't want to work, I wanted a break. Coincidentally... I had already chosen diligence as my study topic... God works in crazy ways! But that morning in my personal study I read the talk by President Eyring- this quote really struck me: "The Saviors example gives me courage to press on. His Labors in mortality were finished, but he entered the Spirit World determined to continue his glorious work to save souls." This quote pretty much made me decide that I needed go get over myself! Christ had just suffered every possible pain, and died for every person... if anyone deserved a break, he did. But he didn't take one- his love for us and for his work kept him going! I know what I am doing here is no where near as hard as suffering all of those pains and afflictions!

The second thing that I loved from this week, showed itself in two ways! Gold is found in simplicity! The first way I was reminded if this, was during my studies! In the talk by Clayton, he made it clear that we show our diligence by consistently doing the small and simple things! He said "getting the little daily habits of faith right is the single best way to fortify ourselves against the troubles of life, whatever they may be." Doing those things like reading, praying, and exercising faith will lead to amazing miracles in our lives! I was also reminded during my interview with my mission president! I expressed how the only thing that really worries me when I talk to people, is simply saying something wrong. He shared a story about how there was a companionship where one elder was very eloquent with his words and the other wasn't. The very eloquently speaking missionary started to wonder when people knew that they wanted to be baptized... they all said that it was when his companion was speaking. This was because he had to use simple words, and those people had to listen to understand him. I don't need to worry, if my Spanish is eloquent or if I'm even close to fluent, because when they are listening to me, even if only through the Holy spirit, they will know what I'm trying to say- they will understand!

The last thing from this study that I really liked was the scripture Luke 1:38- "behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." Mary had so much faith, she trusted in the Lord, and turned her life unto him- I hope that I can be like her one day- trust wholly unto the Lord- not doubting how things will come to happen!

Soo.. I said I studied Marriage too- and I won't make this email about all that I learned, but I really liked this quote from the talk by Howard! "If you want something to last forever, you treat it differently. You shield it, you protect it. You never abuse it. You don't expose it to the elements, you don't make it common or ordinary. If it ever becomes tarnished, you lovingly polish it until it gleams like new. It becomes special, because you have made it so, and it grows more beautiful and precious as time goes by."

I loved this quote because this is true for all relationships- and I challenge you all to look at your relationships with this quote in mind. Are they tarnished, are they being protected? How can you express how important that relationship is? I know that I want to treat my current and future relationships like this quote, because I know that if I do, they will last forever, and my friends and family and I will feel true Joy!

This week we did exchanges, and I led the area with an English sister again... which was actually so fun! Again, I was able to recognize that I have grown so much since I first came here, and God and Jesus Christ have been here with me every day, guiding me, teaching me, and strengthening me! It was during this that the guy who asked about matrimony came in! We had had a previous lesson with him, but when we called him to teach him... we were blocked!! But don't worry, missionaries are persistent and we called him on whatsapp and set up another lesson with him the next day! The lesson went by great, and he's progressing soo well already!

We also had Stake conference! It was about 3 things: how we can better prepare our missionaries, temples, and how we need to have faith! When they talked about temples, they really made me want to set a day each week where I will go to the temple when I get home from the mission! I know that the temple is forever a place of peace and a place where you can go to receive personal revelation! The talk about faith was my favorite! He used the Dr. Suess book "Horton hatches an egg." Do we have the same faith that Horton has? He says over and over again "I meant what I said and I said what I meant, and an elephant is faithful 100%." He made a commitment to sit on that egg, and even when the hunters came and aimed their guns at him, he kept his promise and sat on the egg! That's how our commitments with God are, we make these wonderful promises with him, and when we hold up our side of the bargain and have faith that he will protect and help us, we will receive countless blessings! I think you all should read this book, and think about how you can be more like Horton and sit on the egg until it is hatched (resurrection)!

I know that faith is always the answer, and that when we have faith- we are able to do all things! I love you all so much- but know that there is always someone who loves you! Jesus!!

Here is my weekly question: What are the small and simple things in your life? And how can you better appreciate them?

For example, the little acts of faith, acts of service or love others do for you, or little parts of nature, etc.