Simplicity in Chtist

 Hey y'all!

[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has the time or attention span to read this.]

This last transfer, my last transfer, we have been focusing on the simplicity found in Jesus Christ. When we know the Savior, we know what truly matters. As we focus on Christ, the gospel becomes easier to understand, not easier to live, but simple to understand. I love the simplicity that comes as we choose to be disciples of Jesus Christ.

In the book of Numbers we learn that, “the people spake against God, and against Moses,” so, “the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.” 

Tough.

The people realized they messed up and they went to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.”

In answer to Moses' prayer the Lord answered, “Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.”

And now we should have a happy ending where all the people repent and look to the serpent on the pole and live happily ever after. But instead…

“because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.” (1 Nephi 17:41)

Yikes.

Why is it so hard to look to the Savior? Because is it so easy to look to the Savior.

It’s so hard because all it takes is reading the Book of Mormon everyday and it’s so easy that I still struggle. It’s so hard because it’s simply praying to Heavenly Father and it’s so easy because I don’t want to kneel or speak out loud. Why is it so hard to focus on Jesus Christ? Because it's so easy.

I’m so grateful that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have incredible patience because so often, I turn away, just like the children of Israel. I forget, I complain, I think I should have more than manna. But I can look to Christ and live. The Savior invites simplicity into my life. Elder M. Russell Ballard promised, “It is in simplicity that [we} will find… peace, joy, & happiness.”

President Russell M. Nelson said, “Whatever questions or problems you have, the answer is always found in the life & teachings of Jesus Christ. Learn more about His Atonement, His love, His doctrine, & His restored gospel of healing & progression!” 

I invite you to focus more on Jesus Christ and allow Him to help you simplify your life. I promise that as you focus on Christ and simplify you will experience increased peace, joy, and happiness, I promise this in the name of Jesus Christ.

Still holding to the rod, 

Sister Owens 

Summary: When we focus on Jesus Christ we don’t die from fiery serpent bites.

Updated (& corrected) information regarding my homecoming talk 

Location 

691 E Cedarview street Tooele  

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cedarview+St,+Tooele,+UT+84074/@40.5563673,-112.2786781,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x8752bdb42ab180b9:0xfa04d530fb210631!8m2!3d40.5563673!4d-112.2786781!16s%2Fg%2F11smn8djr_?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D 

Time

9:00 am 

The last email I sent said 10:30 and that’s wrong. Come at 9:00.

Be there or be square (because you’re not around).

Treasured Treasure

 Hey y’all!

[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has the time or attention span to read this.]

"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine."

Exodus 19:5

I liked the idea that the Lord's covenant people are a treasure to him.

As I studied this verse I thought of the things I have treasured throughout my life. I thought about my old toys and how I loved all of my stuffed animals and dolls equally but I had one particular doll that I treasured and felt a bigger need to protect, Pinky Dinky was special to me. Not in a loved-her-more-then-the-rest-way but in a this-doll-needs-me-and-I-need-her-way. 

In Come Follow Me, President Russell M. Nelson was quoted, "In the Old Testament, the Hebrew term from which peculiar was translated is segullah, which means ‘valued property,’ or ‘treasure.’ … For us to be identified by servants of the Lord as his peculiar people is a compliment of the highest order”

This insight from President Nelson brought the term "treasured treasure" into my mind. To treasure something means to protect, value and cherish something or someone. A treasure is something very valuable.

At seminary I listened as the teachers discussed this verse and I remember them saying that the Lord doesn't love the people who have made covenants with him more than those who have not. All of us are of infinite worth to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, but covenant keepers have done work to be obedient to Their commandments and they have a special relationship with the people who have taken upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ.

Making and keeping covenants invites the Lord's protection and blessings into our lives. As we worthily partake of the sacrament each week we are entitled to the companionship of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost warns us of physical and spiritual dangers. The Holy Ghost can spare us from pain and embarrassment. And we can always have the Spirit with us as we treasure our covenants in the same way Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ treasure us. 

I love my Savior, Jesus Christ and my Heavenly Father and I treasure my covenant relationship with Them.

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: Heavenly Father loves you. Jesus loves you. I promise as you make and keep covenants with Them you will better treasure them and you will know how much they treasure you.

The Gatherer

 Hey y'all!

[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has the time or attention span to read this.]

Last time I spoke of goats and sheep. 

So... chickens. not yet though.

Jesus Christ is my best friend. He likes to make metaphors and he is really good at it. He knew I liked chickens and so he put these verses in the Book of Mormon where I would find them. Some background on these scriptures; In Jerusalem Jesus Christ was crucified, he died, and was buried. On the other side of the world in the Americas there was darkness for three days, this darkness testified of Christ's death. After three days he was resurrected he went and visited his disciples in Jerusalem and he also spoke to the believers who had experienced darkness during the time of his death. These are some of his words to those in the dark.

3 Nephi 10:4-6

4. O ye people of these great cities which have fallen, who are descendants of Jacob, yea, who are of the house of Israel, how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have nourished you. 

5. And again, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, who have fallen; yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not.

6. O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft would I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart. 

Perhaps you are in some kind of darkness now. Perhaps my friend, Jesus, left these verses for you too.

Mama chickens gather their chicks under their wings to protect and comfort them. Jesus Christ gathers us to protect and comfort us. What would it be like to receive a hug from Jesus Christ?

I would feel protected, comforted, and loved. I get to feel that way when I read the scriptures and when I partake of the sacrament and when I attend the temple. Sometimes I even get to feel that way when I see some chickens, because even they point us to Jesus Christ. If you feel like you are in darkness I promise that Jesus Christ is the light as you turn to him you will feel his protection, comfort, and love.

This week I participated in a companionship study exchange. Rather than going on a 24 hour exchange with one of the sisters in the zone like teaching missionaries do, I had a study exchange. The sister I met with helped me feel like Jesus was giving me a hug. I was inspired by her faith and her devotion to Jesus Christ. I wasn't having the best day but she demonstrated Christ-like love that lifted my spirit and gave me hope. I felt seen, I felt gathered.

Happy Easter dearest friends! My friend Jesus, and I love you very much!

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: Jesus is light. He is also a chicken, symbolically not literally. He loves you and wants to gather you in the same way mama chicks gather baby chicks under there wings to protect them. Let him protect you.

I ♥️ Goats & Lambs

 Hey y’all!

[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has the time or attention span to read this.]

Here are some fun and silly things that have happened lately:

• Someone brought three baby goats to seminary. It’s one of the best things that’s ever happened in my life. I would like a pet goat when I have my own house and have money for goats and such things.

• Also, at seminary a student brought baby quail. I babysat said quail while the student was in class. They’re smelly but cute.

• And of course, also at seminary a student brought her pet lovebird and while she was standing behind me she threw it at me and it landed on my shoulder. I am very proud of myself for not getting startled because I knew someone threw something at me from behind me and then it was a living thing and that was a lot of emotions in under ten seconds.

• I was informed that I have a cute shoulder shrug. This is particularly kind because my shoulder shrug is kind of awkward, but in a charming way, I guess.

• While I was at YSA activity I was talking to some peers, except they spoke a decent amount of english and I spoke a tiny bit of spanish and so we had some communication struggles but it was still really fun. One of the Spanish speakers said something and he pointed at his eyebrows and motioned at me, whatever he said was in Spanish so I was confused then, someone kindly translated informing me that what he said was, “I like the way she talks with her eyebrows.” 

Here are some service, not, like, fails from lately but not, like, successes is either:

• While visiting the patient I see in hospice who has dementia and is experiencing memory issues she was very worried I was going to get in trouble for being there despite my being there every week. Also, she thought that the people taking care of her were running a scam on her and that they owed her money. She told me she would talk to her bishop about this. She asked me if I was going to just stand there, which is exactly what I did. I’m pretty good at just standing there. 

• Recently while leading a lesson in our adaptive needs seminary class one of the students was hugging my partner teacher, but it wasn’t a great hug, rather it was sort of violent, including squishing people against walls. Also said student had an ill fitting outfit on that day and so unfortunately there was also some… seeing of things one did not want to see.

I forgot how to transition, so, here’s the next part of my email. Thanks for your patience.

The Lamb of God is a musical work by Rob Gardner testifying of Christ’s death, atonement, and resurrection. It was being performed here in Tooele and I knew a large number of people participating in the orchestra and choir. I asked my study companion to join me to go and see it. I reserved two tickets for us. Here is an excerpt from my journal about my experience with the Lamb of God.

“It is Friday, March 13th, 2026. I am parked in the Tooele High School seminary parking lot. Inside the high school the Lamb of God performance is happening… Something inside me made it too hard to go in so I am crying in my car. And, I can’t quite tell what’s wrong but I am overwhelmed by a feeling testifying to me that Jesus Christ has felt the way I feel.”

That evening I had been experiencing some anxiety and there were tiny inconveniences that made me feel a little worse and then a little more worse, and then I felt paralyzed. Anxiety is silly, funny because you know the problems you’re experiencing are not life threatening but you also know that you feel like they are. In the end I never made it to the performance but I did learn about Christ’s death, atonement, and resurrection.

I sat in the seminary parking lot for a long time and cried quite a bit. Even though no one else was in the car with me, I felt my Savior nearby. In the car I watched this video. 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/video/childrens-bible-videos/2016-05-005-the-atonement?lang=eng 

As I watched it I still cried and I still felt the grasp of anxiety but it also gave me hope and peace. I know that the peace and hope I experienced didn’t come from watching a video, those feelings came from Jesus Christ.

I also came across these scriptures:

Romans 8: 38-39

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I have a lot of confidence in Jesus Christ. I am confident in His love. I am confident he knows me and has helped me and will continue to help me. I am confident the Savior knows you and loves and has helped you and will continue to help you. I am confident Jesus knows what’s going on in our crazy world and loves it despite the crazy. I am confident Jesus has helped our world and will continue to help and heal it.

Still holding to the rod, 

Sister Owens 

Summary: Wow, this is pretty crazy, right? Good thing we have Jesus.

#Humbling

 Hey y'all!

[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has the time or attention span to read this.]

Apparently missions don't last forever :( and I've kind of been doing this for awhile so last week I got an email regarding  My Plan  basically this means part of my missionary responsibilities is planning some stuff for life after my mission. 

Please enjoy a short description of the existential crisis I've been experiencing as I try to make plans.

I've heard tales of a shoulder angel and a shoulder devil. Most iconically Kronk from Emperor's New Groove.

Well, I don't think I have an angel and a devil. This week I felt like I had a shoulder Jacob and a shoulder Esau. Esau likes eating jerky and takes a lot of pride in his hair and is real tough. Jacob likes growing food and flowers and is a real momma's boy. And, like, I'm both. 

Inner Jacob and Esau have been fighting over the birthright. But for me I'm just trying to decide which college to go to. 

Esau says, “Girl, you know which college you want. Just do it.“

Jacob says, “Sister Owens you know which college Heavenly Father wants you to go to and you know everything works out a lot better when you are obedient. Follow the prompting.”

I applied for and was accepted to the Jacob college but I still keep looking at the Esau college and selfishly wishing Heavenly Father will change his mind. But I know Heavenly Father is looking at me and saying, “Trust me.”

And so I'm trusting because Esau college is, for me, a mess of pottage. And right now I want it because I'm hungry and I've been working hard and I want easy. 

But Jacob college means eternal blessings not temporary comfort. Heavenly Father wants me to be happy and he wants me to become more like his son, Jesus, who seldom had it easy. Heavenly Father knows where that is going to happen. 

I am learning humility. It's been a hard lesson, but I'm learning.

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: Choosing a college is hard. God knows more than you and me and all of us.

Cinderella (Sister Owens is not a shoe loser but she is a princess.)

 Hey y'all!

[Summary at the bottom cuz I know not everyone has the time or attention span to read this.]

Regarding Cinderella (2015 live-action)

Once upon a time my grandparents took me and my sister to see the live-action Cinderella movie at the theater. I fell in love with this movie because of its beauty and the message of courage and kindness. I watched it yesterday with Cordelia. Ten year old me was quite impressed and frankly so is twenty year old me.

Regarding Courage 

Earlier this year I was asked to give a little talk on courage for a young women's event in my ward. Courage is described as not being afraid of doing what is right, but has also been described as doing what is right despite being frightened. 

There are many scriptural examples of courage including the two thousand stripling warriors, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, Esther, Daniel, Nephi everyone who has ever had reasons to be afraid of doing the right thing and has done it anyways.

I think we have all been asked to do good things that are scary for us. I was asked to conduct zone conference a little while ago and it kind of made me want to cry but I still said yes and even though it was scary the whole time I did it because I knew that's what Heavenly Father wanted me to do. 

I really love Heavenly Father and I want to do what he wants me to do. 

Jesus felt this way too, in the garden as felt intense pain and loneliness when he said, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42)

That's courage. Knowing something is going to be uncomfortable at best and doing it because you love someone. 

Regarding Kindness 

Once upon a time I had a constant brawl getting my locker combination correct in middle school. I want to say the lock was just tricky but no one else seemed challenged by it when they helped me get in the locker. This locker had me stressed all the time. Luckily, the girl with the locker above mine would notice my wrestles and offer to help. She was always so happy to help and she saved me from being late to class at least once a week. I'm so grateful for her kindness. 

I don't think she remembers helping me with my locker. I don't know if she remembers me at all. But I do remember her. I remember her kindness, her smile, all her help. I love her. Like really, I admire her so much even though I only know her from helping me open my locker nine years ago.

At the end of Hunger Games, Katniss, who's seen a thing or two and knows how good and how bad humanity can be, tells us about a sort of game she plays where she lists off every kind or good act she's seen someone do. 

There are times I like to play this game too. 

Kindness matters. Courage matters. 

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: “Have courage and be kind.” -Cinderella 

Matthew 16

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/matt/16?lang=eng 

Luke 22

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/luke/22?lang=eng 

Hunger Games Quote

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/10611020-i-make-a-list-in-my-head-of-every-act  

I wrote this bad poem for you. 

Courage and kindness 

If we had more

Night would be shorter

Day longer

Every kind act is 

Reflected back

Every courageous act

Leaves the world a 

Little more lovely

Amen.

Boy Meet World episode 2 season 1 but like Book of Mormon Version

 Hey y'all!

[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has the time or attention span to read this.]

Yesterday during my personal study I read Alma chapter 39 in the Book of Mormon. Here is the background information for the chapter:

Once upon a time Alma and his sons went on a mission. They preached the gospel to lots of people and it was great. Alma’s youngest son, Corianton, ditches his dad and brothers and flirts it up with this harlot chick named Isabel. Not cool. So Alma, being Corianton's Father and all, has a chat with Cory. 

Basically chapter 39 is that chat.

I used to want to skip over this chapter. It felt weird to read about Cory’s sins and his dad's gentle reprimanding. But yesterday I finally got it. I saw all the love in the chapter. The way Alma loved his sons so he brought them with him as he was preaching. Alma's older sons loved their father and their Heavenly Father and chose to be faithful missionaries. Cory did something abominable, he broke the law of chastity, but his father loves him so much he calmly talks to him and encourages him to repent and follow the example of his older brothers. And of course the love of the Savior who made it possible for Cory to repent.

I want to be like Alma. I want to love people enough to talk about uncomfortable things that will help them be better. I want to encourage repentance. I want to be like the dad in the prodigals son, welcoming sinners home, because oh, how they need a home and I want to celebrate their return. I want to be like Jesus. 

I guess the way to become like that is by remembering the mercy and grace Christ has shown me and then strive to give that to others.

In other news my great grandma turned 100!

Okay folks I love you all oh so much! 

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: Listen to this hymn. Also my great grandma is so cute. 

Welcome Home

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/music/hymns-for-home-and-church/welcome-home-release-3?lang=eng