Lot's Wife

Who is Lot's Wife? Watch this Video to find out a little about her!

 

 

 

Now why in the world am I writing about Lot's wife, and why do I have these pictures of a carnival up?

Well, let me explain. . .

 

 

 

    A couple of weeks ago Sister Christensen (my companion) and I were going to visit someone when we happened across this very inviting carnival! Now for most people seeing a carnival is not a big deal. You just see it as an opportunity to have some fun and eat cotton candy, right?  Well, as a missionary things are a little bit different. When Mormon missionaries leave their homes and families behind for 18 months to 2 years, we also leave behind all forms of worldly entertainment and devote all of our time and attention to serving the Lord. We leave behind the carnivals of the world to dedicate and consecrate our lives to God. 

   

    Don't get me wrong, going on a mission is the best thing I have ever done, but when I saw this wonderful, colorful, and only slightly distracting carnival, I had a moment where I looked behind me. I had a moment of thinking how nice it would be to just sit back and eat some cotton candy or popcorn and go on a dizzying carnival ride instead of walking around talking to complete strangers. Thankfully I was NOT turned into a pillar of salt like Lot's wife, and I remembered all of the wonderful things about being a missionary. Talking to people about Jesus and helping them make changes in their lives, changes that will make them happier and allow them to access the Atonement more fully in their lives is the most fulfilling work that I have ever done, it is one of the hardest as well. I am sure that it was hard for Lot's wife to leave everything behind, but her attitude of looking back was what got her into trouble.

 

    I know that looking forward to the blessings awaiting us in the future is always going to lead to a more abundant life than looking at and dwelling on what we are leaving behind. I know there are costs to being a disciple of Christ and it isn't always as fun, but the benefits to following the example and striving to be like Christ will ALWAYS make those sacrifices worth it!

 

*and. . .side benefit. . . we probably won't be turned into giant piles of salt too. :)*

 



Mom's Tender Mercy

 

My mom and I as I left for my Mission

 

A couple of weeks ago I was writing my Mom and I decided to ask her to share a Tender Mercy with me that I could share on my Blog. She shared an experience with me that she had while I was still at school. It happened about the time that my Grandma Call passed away, this is her experience.

 

I was running way behind getting out of Julie's (my sister) the morning of my flight. I really wanted to get that last section of baseboard painted after having finished laying the floor late the night before. I took the subway and airtrain to JFK and it seemed like it took forever and I was getting nervous about cutting it too close. Besides I was flying Delta where the terminal and security are a nightmare. They were doing construction on the terminal as well and I had to go through a completely different entrance. I already had my speech prepared to beg to let me butt in line so I could make the flight. I had resigned myself to having maybe missed the flight and rescheduling and missing out on saying goodbye to Grandma. I had already said goodbye really when I left go to Julies actually thinking I would have to cut it short to come home for the funeral. When I finally found where I was supposed to go for the security line, I was astounded to find I was the only one there. I was so flustered, I forgot to take out my cell phone from my pocket and was just waiting for the machine to beep, which it didn't! I made the flight by the skin of my teeth and prayed the whole way home I would be able to see grandma one last time. Karen (another sister) picked me up from the airport and took me right to the care center. I was able to talk to Grandma and I know she knew I was there. She died shortly after that. It was a wonderful tender mercy extended to me by the Lord.

 

I am so grateful for my wonderful Mom who helped to teach me not only to serve those around me like she does, but to search for the tender mercies in my life. She is always so in tune to when she receives blessings from God. Some of these things might have been labeled as coincidence, but she recognized where it all came from. A loving Heavenly Father who always answers prayers. I invite you to be more aware of how merciful God has been in your life. What tender mercies have you seen in your life lately?

Family History

Recently I have been studying the General conference talks from April. I read President Henry B. Eyring's talk "A Priceless Heritage of Hope" and other talks that have left me thinking over and over about Family History. when I was in the McLean 2nd ward I had an incredible opportunity. I was able to meet my 1st cousin once removed (My Dad's Cousin). It was so neat to get to know her and to hear all the stories she has about my grandparents and great-grandparents. Stories I had never heard before.

 

 I love learning about who my family is and where we came from. I love learning about how they found the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I am so incredibly grateful for the Heritage of Hope they left for Me and my family. Because of countless sacrifice by those who have gone before me I am where I am today. I have the testimony I have today. I know that belonging to the loving, caring, faithful family that I am a part of is one of the greatest blessings that God has given me. I know that they have taught me about who God is. I know that God is real, that Jesus Christ is my Savior. 

You can learn more about Family History at familysearch.org. On Family Search there are lots of cool features. You can put stories and Pictures of your ancestors. It really makes it come alive! Here are some of the pictures of My ancestors from Family Search



Anson Call

Emma Summers Call

Hyrum and Nellie Josephine North Bennion

 

 

 

Humperdinck...Beware of Pride

While off visiting a member of our ward this week, Sister McBride and I ran into this little guy. We saw him hopping along our path and decided to see if he would let us talk to him. His name is Humperdinck as you can see by the angle of his nose, he was too lifted up in the pride of his heart to let us talk to him.

I remember a particularly humbling experience for me. My best friend and I were at church and the lesson was on the pride cycle. We see the pride cycle over and over in the scriptures.

When the people in general listen to God's authorized servants and obey God's commandments they enjoy a time of peace and prosperity, then they become proud. They forget that all they have comes from God and they stop obeying the commandments and are lifted up in the pride of their eyes. Then if they don't humble themselves, they are humbled. They do not receive the same blessings they did when they were being obedient. Then, because they have been humbled, they remember to call upon God. They repent and start to live the commandments again and the cycle starts all over again.

Does that sound familiar? It should have sounded familiar to me! After the lesson I commented to my friend how I don't think we all have to go through pride cycles...oh how wrong I was! A while later, I had a very humbling experience in one of my institute classes. It was one of those moments where a spiritual mirror came in front of me and I saw very clearly some of my spiritual weaknesses. I was going through one of my very own personal pride cycles. I had become a little bit proud about different things and I needed to be humbled.

As hard as that experience was for me, I am eternally grateful for it now. It reminded me what it is to be humble. In True to the Faith it says about Humility

"To be humble is to recognize gratefully your dependence

on the Lord—to understand that you have constant need for

His support. Humility is an acknowledgment that your talents

and abilities are gifts from God. It is not a sign of weakness,

timidity, or fear; it is an indication that you know where

your true strength lies."

I am eternally grateful for the lesson I learned (and continue to learn) about being humble. I love that it is understanding that all I have that is good comes from God. He is where my true strength lies.