To Be A Pupil

This week I decided to study discipleship, and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. There was a lot that I really liked, but this is an email, and long emails are kinda boring... I think you should all try and study discipleship- especially what it means to you.

Here are some talks that I loved from this week:

- a disciple, a friend (Edgley April 1998)

- a child and a disciple (Eyring April 2003)

- faith to act and become (Schmeil Oct. 2021)

- your great adventure (Uchtdorf Oct. 2019)

In the Bible dictionary, it says that a disciple is two things: a pupil or a learner. We are all still learning, still growing, still trying to be like Jesus. Christ is the master teacher, and when we are his diligent student, we cannot be led astray. The Bible dictionary also says that disciples are all followers of Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter what you are doing in your life, whether you are a new mom, general authority, 8-year-old just baptized, or a missionary. If you are following Jesus Christ, you are a disciple. What are you doing to follow Jesus Christ?

There is a quote by Elder Schmeil that says "to become a better follower of the Savior Jesus Christ is a lifelong journey, and we are all in different stages, moving at a different pace. We must keep in mind that this is not a competition, and we are here to love and help each other." In another talk by Elder Uchtdorf, he says "to help others is the path of discipleship." The easiest way to continue on your path of becoming a better follower of Jesus Christ is to help others! Show a smile, write a card, send a text, bring some cookies, etc. The list of possibilities is endless. What can you do now?

The idea of being a disciple of Christ can be a little daunting, but in a talk by Elder Vinson, he says "it's not our successes but rather our sacrifice and efforts that matter to the Lord." The Lord knows his disciples by their day to day efforts. Elder Vinson also said "giving our all doesn't mean that we will be continually enveloped in blessings or always have success. But it does mean that we will have joy." By trying our hardest, we are able to feel that joy in our life- I promise you all that when you do those small and simple things, you will feel joy!

Sorry for all the quotes today, but they just say it better than I do. But Elder Shmeil said "be thankful that sometimes God let's you struggle for a long time before that answer comes, that causes your faith to increase and your character to grow." We won't have all the answers and successes the moment we want them, but through our faithful discipleship, we will receive all that we need. And another quote by Elder Uchtdorf... "God loves you no less when you struggle than when you triumph." PLEASE remember that! 

To finish my rant about discipleship, I wanted to explain one more thing- the path of discipleship is straight. There are no bends, and no confusion. We know the path! So I invite you all to follow it!

As for interesting things that happened this week, we had a mouse in our house... and the English sisters freaked out! All of the sudden I hear screaming coming from their room, and one of the sisters kept saying "hermanas, come help us." It was great! The zone leaders came with a shoe box and a golf club and some gloves to try to catch it haha- but they didn't! So it's here somewhere... but it's okay! My companion and I are a-okay! The sisters are a little freaked out though!

And update about the mystery woman! We still don't know how we had her in our schedule, but I figured out that I had met her before! I figured out why we were meant to visit her! It was so crazy- in the middle of the visit with her, my mind pieced it all together and my mind was blown!!

We had a family home evening with a family we are teaching, and two member families and it was so good! They are becoming such good friends, and we had an activity where we looked in the scriptures for blessings haha- I drew and cut out leaves for them to make thankful trees haha! But pray for this family to feel ready to be baptized! They are so cute! 

My question this week is: What does it mean to be intentional? How can you be more intentional in all things that you do?

I love you all so much! Don't forget how much the Lord loves you! He's there to help you every moment of everyday! 

Have an amazing week!!