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.

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.

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

 

Hands

 Hey y'all!

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

Yesterday we had a sister's study activity. Which basically meant wearing pajamas, talking about things we want to do differently, creating goals and eating cookies. Wow, being a missionary is the best.

As we discussed our lives as missionaries one sister commented on how she felt when she was in the temple, explaining how her white dress and everything was beautiful until she would look down at her hands. 

This sister serves at the This Is The Place Monument, where missionaries dress as pioneers and help people learn about early Utah history and the way people lived in those times. This Sister is a blacksmith there and often gets scars and burns on her hands from the work and demonstrations she does. 

When she is wearing a dress for church or while she is in the temple in her white gown she feels self conscious and perhaps sometimes even ashamed of her hands because of the scars.

As she expressed this to each of us I couldn't help but see the parallels to Jesus Christ.

My dear friend, Jesus, also has scars from his service. No one served quite like him. No one suffered quite like him. 

President Thomas S. Monson, then Elder Monson, gave a talk entitled, “Hands” in this talk he speaks of the sanctity of hard working hands.

Of the Good Shepherd’s hands Elder Monson said, “This was the determined hand which drove from the temple the money changers. This was the loving hand that blessed little children. This was the strong hand that opened deaf ears and restored vision to sightless eyes. By this hand was the leper cleansed, the lame man healed—even the dead Lazarus raised to life. With the finger of this hand there was written in the sand that message which the winds did erase but which honest hearts did retain. The hand of the carpenter. The hand of the teacher. The hand of the Christ.”

It is a sacred privilege to be the Lord's hand as his service missionary. An honor even more for this sister who will forever look at her hands and find Christ. How sacred that her service should reflect the Savior’s.

“I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!

Such mercy, such love, and devotion can I forget? …

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!”

His hands are always stretched towards us. Accept his hand. Let him help you. Oh how he loves you. When Jesus looks down at his hands he thinks of you. 

To this fellow missionary and representative of Christ, I humbly share, Psalm 24:3-4

“3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?

4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”

Your hands are clean and you are worthy to enter the Lord’s house. Thank you for taking upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ. You are an exceptional representative of the Lord. However, I would kindly suggest that we find you some high quality, thick, leather gloves.

I hope all of our hands can be a little more like Christ's.

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: Let us not be ashamed of the service we do in the Savior’s name. Celebrate those scars that make you more like Jesus Christ. Do more of what the Savior would do.

Sources

Hands

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1972/10/hands?lang=eng 

I Stand All Amazed

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/hymns/i-stand-all-amazed?lang=eng 

Psalm 24

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/ps/24?lang=eng

 

Good Stuff

Hi everyone!

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

For this week's email I'm not really going to write but rather list some things that are good from this last week. 

Please enjoy the following with me:

-Dinosaur stickers 

-Teddy bears

-Orange flowers

-Fairy lights

-Candles that smell like Fall

-Decent jazz music

-Wedding invitations from new friends

-Open windows

-Naps

-Learning Christmas music in choir

-Blue silky pillowcases

-dresses with floral print

-potlucks

-mother daughter dates

-hugs

-a well organized binder

-a well organized planner

-using old lemonade bottles as vases for sunflowers

-comfort movies and shows

-teaching my sister how to drive

-the impermanence of heavy feelings 

-ribbons to wear in hair

-vanilla scented soaps

-chicken nuggets

-juice

-emails from people you miss 

-Kindness

-having my own office

-little basil plants

-making progress 

-seeing the sky

-good stories

-how Ok looks like a lil stick figure on its side

-you reading the whole list

-you

Okay, send me a little list of things you've enjoyed lately.

Love ya!

Sister Owens

Summary: I wrote this list of good things. Thanks for being something good in my life. Keep being good.

P.S. Jesus loves you.

Some Minor Updates

 Hey y'all!

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

In preparation for the long awaited halfway mark of my mission, I've decided to change a few things for the remaining 9 or so months. For example, I've been reassigned to be a service missionary in the Salt Lake City West mission. 

Being a missionary in North Carolina was a wonderful experience. I was able to help others learn about Jesus Christ and become a more devoted disciple of Jesus Christ too!

Sometimes I felt a little sad, but actually a lot sad. Sometimes I felt a little nervous, but actually a lot nervous. And then those times became a little more frequent and then a lot more frequent. 

So now I'm going to try out being a service missionary. I'm not sure what assignment I'll have yet but I know I'll end up where the Lord needs me. I know Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ are aware of me & aware of you. 

I know we can be confident in Jesus Christ!

Here's what I learned from my time in Cleveland North Carolina:

Sertraline, a common drug used for mental health is quite the ride, one of those rides at the fair that you're happy to get off of.

Humidity is great for your skin. I felt like a cute slimy frog some days, a cute slimy frog with very clear skin. 

Jesus Christ lives.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days is Jesus Christ’s Church.

Some churches are like social clubs and I have a really hard time with that.

Anyone can participate in missionary work. 

Oreos with peanut butter are wonderful.

Companions help you do things even when you're scared.

New testament is good stuff.

 Some of the most powerful testimonies are given through music.

Black mold is crazy and sometimes it means that you live with 6 people in an apartment for like, 2 people.

 Members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that are originally from Utah, are all about pasta & casseroles.

Love you!

Still holding to the rod, 

Sister Owens 

Summary: I'm in Utah now. I learned stuff. I love Jesus! I love you!

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZMqcVg4i6kAMWJVH9

 

The Iron Rod

 Hey y'all!

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

Once upon a time there was a prophet named Lehi. Some of the identities he valued most were: father, husband, child of God, disciple of Christ. Lehi was a good man & he knew his Savior. 

Lehi lived in a city where the people were being wicked and the Lord warned him to leave so Lehi took his family and only what they needed and they left.

Lehi and his family lived in the wilderness and it was hard. They missed their friends. Their home. They had to work hard to get food and everyday they were just so very tired. But the Lord promised to take care of them as they obeyed His commandments. And the Lord did take care of them, He always keeps His promises.

Lehi loved his family. He was completely in love with his wife Sariah and he wanted her to be happy, he always did his best to take very good care of her. They had four sons; the oldest was Laman, then Lamuel, Sam, & last Nephi. Lehi loved his boys. He hoped they would grow up to be righteous, and firm and steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord. 

Sometimes Lehi would ask his boys to do things that were very hard. One time they had to travel all the way back to their home town so they could get a very special book. People tried to hurt them but the Lord protected them. Their mother was very afraid for them but as they turned to the Lord they were all okay and they all learned new things & grew in faith! 

One day as they tarried in the wilderness Lehi had a dream or in other words he saw a vision. 

It began in a dark and dreary waste. Lehi traveled in the darkness for many hours.

How would you feel if you were in darkness for hours?

I would be very scared & if I was there for a really long time I might start to feel hopeless.

After Lehi had traveled in the darkness for the space of many hours he began to pray to the Lord & asked for mercy, he knew the Lord was merciful!

Some time passed and Lehi saw a field, and he saw a tree with fruit that makes people happy! So Lehi went to the tree and he tried a piece of fruit and it was the best thing he had ever tasted! 

What's the yummiest thing you've ever had? 

I really love my mom's cinnamon rolls and her chocolate chip peanut butter cookies! 

Lehi also saw that the fruit was white, really, really white, it might have looked like it was glowing! Lehi says that the fruit made him so happy that he wanted his family to try the fruit too!

Lehi notices a river near the tree and at the head thereof a little way off, he saw his family! But they were confused and didn't know where they should go. So he got their attention and invited them to come and try the fruit! 

And not all of them came. Laman and Lemuel, his two oldest sons, didn't come and try the fruit with the rest of the family. This made Lehi very sad.

Lehi’s dream continues and he sees an iron rod between the tree and the river. 

Then Lehi sees us! Or at least people like us. And then the mists of darkness come. It's physical darkness. You can feel it sometimes.

All of us struggle in the darkness. But we know to hold onto the iron rod. As we cling to the rod we can press forward through the mist of darkness.

The darkness is real but so is the iron rod! And everyone who clings to it, everyone who holds fast to the iron rod, they get to partake of the fruit. 

Would you hold onto the rod? I hope you would. I hope you are! The iron rod is the Book of Mormon! It leads us through darkness and helps us come closer to God!

The fruit is God’s love! Clinging to the iron rod is the easiest way to reach the fruit.

Have you ever felt God's love? What is it like?

It is the opposite of darkness. It's light! Overwhelming goodness, it feels like everything is worth it.

As the people hold the rod of iron and move forward they get to try the fruit! They rejoice! It is so wonderful to be a part of something so marvelous!

The next part is so sad, even more sad than when Laman and Lemuel didn't come to the tree. But it's important so I'm going to tell you about it. 

Some of the people make it to the tree and they try the fruit but then they see this building. On the other side of the river there's a huge building with all kinds of people in beautiful clothes and they were mocking those at the tree of life. The people in the worldly palace would point and scoff at everyone by the tree.

And as many as heeded them, fell away. 

People who ate the fruit chose to leave the tree because they stopped focusing on what was most important.

What is most important to you?

Are you spending your time on the things that are most important in this life, and in life after this one? Are you giving the Lord a fair share of your time?

Please stay. Please come and partake of the fruit, please feel this joy with us. And then please stay. Yes, people will mock and the world will cast doubt at you but please stay. Stay focused on Jesus Christ. Remember what His love feels like.

That worldly palace with the people in the beautiful clothes is destroyed. The building falls. No one there receives the everlasting joy that we partake of at the tree.

Lehi loves his family so he beckons them to come to the tree and to stay at the tree. 

I love my family, you're all a part of my family and I invite you all to do the very same.

Lehi is so sad when some of his sons choose not to come to the tree.

I want you all to be happy so I invite you to come and feel the Savior's love by holding to the iron rod, by reading the Book of Mormon.

Will you read the Book of Mormon everyday?

I promise I will. I promise. And I promise that as you read the Book of Mormon everyday you will gain a personal witness that Jesus is the Christ and that He is your personal Savior, you will feel His love. 

If you're already reading the Book of Mormon everyday I invite you to stay and to beckon others to come and feel this great joy.

There will be opposition. The pride of the world will never approve of the humility required for discipleship. But let our confidence be in Christ. 

I am confident in the Savior. I can testify of His love and power. I am confident in the Book of Mormon, I know it testifies of Jesus Christ. I say these things and I make those promises in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: 

1 Nephi 8

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/8?lang=eng

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZMqcVg4i6kAMWJVH9

Untitled 1

 Hey y'all!

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

It's transfer time yet again. Previous to this transfer every area I've been in I've stayed for two transfers but this time I did what's called a one & done. I got my taste of Woodington & now I'm off to who knows where with who knows who.

Because it's another move I get to do a “here's what I learned from here email”l so without further ado:

♡ The white & yellow corn is the best. Corn should be picked/harvested before it gets too big and yellow. The proper way to eat corn is rolled in a stick of butter (salted) and then additional salt put on that.

♡ Communication is kind. I am still learning this. People feel good when you talk to them. People enjoy it when you share your feelings and thoughts. 

♡ People are so grateful for rain and that is so sweet.

♡ Okra is just the first two letters. No matter how it's prepared it's just ok. 

♡ It's alright to be struggling in periods of change. Some people call this wobble. There's a cool BYU Devo on it but mostly I love how professionally & seriously the word wobble was used to describe the feelings of fear and doubt and excitement that comes in times of readjusting and change.

♡ Learning to be a good steward helps us to better trust ourselves and notice everything the Lord has blessed us with. As we take care that which is sacred we see more as the Lord sees.

♡ The Book of Mormon truly testifies of Jesus Christ & His gospel. There are things that Jesus Christ has asked us to do and He will always, always help us do those things He asks.

♡ DEET ruins plastic. Plastic like name tags. Once upon a time basically everyday this last transfer I was getting eaten by mosquitoes so I tried a stronger bug spray, one with DEET & then it got on my name tag & the heat + the DEET = a ruined name tag.

♡ Book of Mormons can melt. My Book of Mormon that they gave me my first day in North Carolina leaves little blue melted Book of Mormon stains on the inside of my bag, my hands and my clothes. So in case you're wondering, a Book of Mormon can melt. I remember going into my first district council and seeing everyone's Book of Mormons, well-loved, well-used, and well, beaten up & I just felt so ashamed of mine and how crisp and new it looked.

♡ The Mount Olive Pickle Parlor exists & it's a big dill.

♡ I just really love the Book of Mormon so much. It's so simple and so true. Anyone can know for themselves if it's true. It might take some work but it's so worth it. As I testify of the Book of Mormon I just feel like I'm doing what's right. The Book of Mormon is the only thing that can really consistently give me confidence. The Book of Mormon points me to the Savior and the Savior points me to joy, hope, peace, charity, all good things come from Christ. The Book of Mormon is what points us to Christ and it opens the way for good things.

♡ Sometimes people communicate that they love you by feeding you food that might make you think they are trying to clog your arteries, but they actually do love you. And don't want to clog your batteries, they want to have a positive effect on your heart. 

♡ The Lord can and will use any skill and ability that you consecrate. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are perfectly aware of us and they are very good at making miracles happen. 

♡ You can't destroy the word of God. Our friend Eddie was baptized a little while ago and Eddie has seen miracles in his life he has a simple and pure testimony of Jesus Christ. He's wonderful. A few years ago Eddie's house burnt down. This was his childhood home. His mom would pick pecans off of the trees and he taught his son how to fix motors there. And then his home burnt down and he lost a lot. A lot, a lot. But not his testimony and he had a couple copies of the Bible and the outside of those bibles were burnt but the inside was fine. He likes to tell everyone that, “you can't destroy the word of God.” I know that's true. 

♡ I learned stuff about tobacco like how to recognize what crop it is. And that it helps with bee stings. And it's hard to quit smoking. 

♡ It's good to have neighbors. It's especially good to have good neighbors and to be a good neighbor. Neighbors are good.

Those are the main lessons that come to mind. Love ya folks! 

As a goodbye it felt fit to write one last Woodington poem. Please enjoy.

Where the people are welcoming

Open doors and open hearts

Other nice, uplifting thing

Diabetes because they can COOK & BAKE

I am glad to have been here 

Nothing quite like it

Grandma's and grandpa's found here

Talk a little funny but the love all the same

Okey dokey

No complaints

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: I'm leaving Woodington. I learned stuff while I was here. Yay!

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZMqcVg4i6kAMWJVH9

♡

 Hey y'all!

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

Last week I talked about mosquito bites and how they were not cool. This week, for the first time in my life, I got stung by a wasp. Maybe mosquitos aren't soooo bad.

We were going to teach a friend about the word of wisdom. But, before the lesson even began the wasp stung me & our friend pulls out a cigarette and breaks it in half and sticks onto the sting, he then pours some water on it & for the remainder of the lesson I sat with cigarette slush on my hand. Also, this friend informed that I ought to begin smoking so that I could always have a cigarette when the wasps came. …yikes.

We also got to go to the temple this week it was really wonderful. I learned that revelation comes when we are looking for specific revelation. As we come with questions and come prepared to find answers we can receive the personal revelation we need. 

We also had zone council & zone conference. A lot happened. It was all very good. 

I gave a talk. Again. It went well.

Im too tired to write this. I love you and I love Jesus and that's the point of this email and every email. 

♡

Still holding to the rod, 

Sister Owens 

Summary: I got stung by a wasp. Love.

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZMqcVg4i6kAMWJVH9

Have I Already Titled an Email Faith?

 Hey y'all!

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

This week I want to talk about faith. (Again.)

Faith in Jesus Christ is one of my favorite things to teach because there is so much flexibility. There are so many different ways to teach, explain, make a metaphor for faith. I compare it to trust falls, stairs, picking your nose & sucking your thumb at the same time. There's so many scriptures you can use to teach about faith. I love it. 

This week at zone conference Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt of the Seventy shared with us Alma 5:15. This is the Prophet Alma testifying to His people, he says, “15 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?” Elder Corbitt broke it down to look, forward, with an eye of faith, view or see (the Lord's promise fulfilled), imagine to yourselves (begin with the end in mind), works of righteousness. 

We are to go about missionary work (& life) as though the Lords promises have already been fulfilled. Would your life be different if you knew, really knew that all of the promised blessings in your patriarchal blessing would be fulfilled? They will be as you are faithful. Would your life be different if you really knew that your family would be together forever as you faithfully keep temple covenants? View those promises as though they have already been fulfilled. 

Live as though every good thing is in store for you. Because every good thing is in store for those that make and keep sacred covenants.

We can expect miracles because we have the type of faith that allows for miracles to happen all around us. 

As we look forward with an eye of faith and see theLords's promise fulfilled we don't have to be afraid. We can better walk towards Jesus Christ. We can be more obedient and repent each day, we all need to repent each day. 

Do something that requires faith. Here's what I did.

About a week before Zone Conference we had zone council where we were invited to memorize something called the Treasure Program. Which consists of Raleigh North Carolina mission specific advice and a lot of parts of Preach My Gospel like the different sections of lessons, how to begin teaching, the baptismal invite, and more. The treasure program is about 5 pages when written nicely in my notebook. I'm not sure how many pages that translates to on a Google doc but it was a lot and we were given less than a week to memorize it. I had a bit of a head start because I had been trying to memorize it since… the beginning of my mission. But I couldn't seem to keep it all in my head. 

After zone council I made a weekly goal of seeking and expecting miracles specifically seeking and expecting the miracle of memorizing the treasure program. So I prayed about it and I prayerfully made a study plan and then I acted on that plan. And guess what?

Five minute before Zone Conference I passed it off. Miracles are abounding. Maybe it's kind of a silly miracle and it sure took work on my part but it really is a miracle. 

I know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will help us with our righteous desires. I know there are miracles everywhere. 

Love you all!

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: Alma 5:15 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?

Faith. Have it.

This week I exercised faith by memorizing the treasure program, 5 pages of good things missionaries ought to know. Being able to memorize this was for sure a miracle that required faith.

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZMqcVg4i6kAMWJVH9