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.

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

 

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

MosQUITos

 Hey y'all!

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

This last week just before a member meal I was the victim of a mosquito bite. Please also note that since my mission I've come to a knowledge that I'm slightly allergic to mosquito bites which leads mostly to more swelling than the average person might get. This unfortunate wound was on my forehead. 

It was huge. 

It was like I was back in a trio, with an extra companion that lived on my forehead.

Highly unfortunate. Next time I'll take pictures. 

Luckily the members we were with are really cool and one of them works at the hospital so she had me put fancy chemicals on the bite so it would CALM DOWN. And it did. 

It also feels relevant to note that I carry something called after bite in my bag everywhere I go because I live in constant fear of mosquitos.

If you know me you may know that I love a good metaphor. Even more than that I love a bad metaphor. My favorite bad one is as follows, “he was as tall as a 6’4 tree.” Terrible. I love it. 

So here is a bad metaphor for you all to enjoy. A bad analogy if you will, mosquito bites are much like sin. 

I myself sometimes try to overcome mosquito bites without any help. This usually means scratching the bites because then it temporarily feels better. But after I do that the relief is so short and the bite swells up more and it often gets more itchy. It can also lead to infections if I break the skin and then ick gets in there, which is super duper unfortunate and then I really really would need help dealing with it. If an infection goes untreated I'm not sure what all happens but it can't be good. And some of my past mosquito bites are scars now because I itched them so much. 

I myself sometimes try to overcome sin without any help. This usually means hiding, even lying and/or convincing myself something isn't a sin or just trying to hide it from other people or even God. But after I do that the relief is so short my heart breaks more and I'm even more afraid to ask for help, but I need it more. If I continue to this I might deny the promptings of the Spirit and I might start breaking my covenants and further distancing myself from God, which is super duper unfortunate and then I really really would need help dealing with it. If I choose not to repent I become uncomfortable with my identity as a child of God. I begin to despise myself, my God, everything. Some of the sins that we try to deal with on our own can scar us. 

What I have been learning to do when I get mosquito bites is turn for help right away. Put on after bite. After bite has fancy chemicals that decrease the swelling and the itching. Sometimes after bite can sting for 2-3 seconds but it is always worth it for how quickly it prevents other problems. If I do scratch the bite a little and then put on after bite the after bite still helps and usually I won't have any other issues. Sometimes the mosquito bites are more severe, like the one on my forehead. Luckily I was at the right place at the right time to get all the extra help I needed. 

What I have been learning to do when I sin is turn for help right away. Repent right away. The Savior's Atonement has fancy power that gets rid of the harm of sin and gets rid of the separation from God that comes with sin. Sometimes repentance can be hard for a very, very short amount of time but it is always, always worth it for how quickly it prevents other problems and heals us from the original sin. If I do procrastinate repenting from the sin a little and then repent the repentance still brings so much relief and the repentance prevents other problems related to the sin. Sometimes our sins are more severe, but the Lord has ways for us to get the extra help we need. We can always talk to our bishop or mission President or someone we trust to get the extra care we need to heal and to repent.

The best thing I can do for mosquito bites is put on bug spray. I'd like to say I have bug spray on all the time so the mosquitos never get me, but that's not true and sometimes even when I am putting on protection I still get bites! But I know the bug spray makes a difference and I know I am preventing bites by putting on protection.

The best thing we can do for sin is also put on protection. We can put on the armor of God by praying, reading our scriptures and taking the Sacrament. I’d like to say that I have the armor of God on all the time, but that's not true and sometimes even when I am putting on protection, like wearing my garments, I still sin! But I know the armor of God makes a difference and I know I am protected from temptation by wearing my garments and praying often, daily scripture study, and taking the Sacrament. 

Mosquitos suck. Sins suck. 

After- bite & medical wonders and wonderful. The Atonement of Jesus Christ & repentance are wonderful.

Heavenly Father has such a great plan for us so that we can all be taken care of with things like mosquito bites and with sin. He provided a way for us to be okay. I love Heavenly Father and I love Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful that I don't have to deal with my sins alone because I know I can't. I need the Savior. I testify of Jesus Christ's infinite love and grace that covers you and me, just like bug spray, but better. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

I love you! The Savior loves you! I hope mosquitos don't love you!

P.S. I'm giving another talk this Sunday if anyone has awesome resources for the topic, “Sharing the message of Christ with love and sincerity” send them [the resources] my way! Thanks!

Still holding to the rod, 

Sister Owens 

Summary: Mosquito bites are like sin. The Savior helps us with everything. 

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

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

Stay Gold (Goodbye Goldsboro)

 Hey y'all!

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

Some updates from last week:

☆The quad moved to a new apartment. It's brand new and it's nice. It comes with a brand new washer and dryer.

☆ Sister Jones and I gave talks on Sunday and it worked. We wanted to strengthen our relationship with the members because, basically nothing we do matters without them & people felt the Spirit and really enjoyed our talks. (Hurrah!)

☆ I went on an exchange with my trainer and she was like, wow you talk now and I was like yeah. Kinda cool.

☆I'm getting transferred to a new area (don't know where yet, only know I'm leaving Goldsboro)

For my last big move in the mission I talked about all of the things I had learned in Fayetteville and I think I'll talk about some of the things I learned from my time in Goldsboro.

♡ Waffle house is great place to go find characters to write into a story. 

♡ Prayers of safety work & so long as I am obedient to missionary standards and rules, so long as I listen to the promptings of the Spirit I will be safe. There are certain areas we have been advised to be very cautious of, or even to avoid… but mission leaders are supportive of us going there when we have a purpose. So we go & it's a little sketchy and people are very confused about why we are there and people also tell us we will get robbed but, so far so good. There's also been times where I knew that if people tried to do something to us they wouldn't have been able to. I know the Spirit protects.

♡I'm so capable of talking to people, like, just saying hi is not that much more than the wave and smile I was already doing.

♡ I'm so grateful for priesthood power. The priesthood is one thing that sets our church apart, its one thing that makes it the one true church. People don't really like when I say that but I know it's true. Lots of churches have lots of truth. And that's awesome. But the best thing is to have the fulness of the gospel & in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we have it all. I'm grateful to be a missionary and to have power and authority within my sacred calling. I'm grateful to partake of the sacrament each week which if not for the priesthood would be just bread and water. The power of God is on Earth today and there are many, many, many, miracles because of it.

♡ A friend in need is a friend in deed. My great grandma used to say that but I didn't really understand it for a long time. Then I met Shamond (one of our new members here) & her best friend Jamie Brown (she's in the ward & she's awesome). They help each other out so much in so many different ways that their friendship just runs so deep. They have love for each other like I've never seen for friends. I can't describe it but they make the phrase a friend in need is a friend in deed make sense. 

♡ If you are seeking and expecting miracles, you had better be willing to act on spiritual prompting. Miracles take a little work, you need to be where you are supposed to be and you need to be doing what you're supposed to be doing, if you do this then you'll stumble on miracles.

♡ Fasting works. On some level I was pretty sure fasting worked but I had never really had any personal experiences with it. One of the miracles from this transfer is a new member named Frank. As missionaries we get to work with people that have recently joined the church and help learn more and continue to progress. The majority of my time here we were unable to contact a new member named Frank. We would stop by, text, call, leave notes, and send emails. We were like crazy stalkers and we simply couldn't get in contact. I didn't know what to do anymore so I fasted for Frank, last fast Sunday. And, one day we were in Frank's area and I knew we needed to stop by. We were a little behind schedule and my companion was a little hesitant but the Spirit was very clear to me that that is where we needed to go. So we went and we met Frank and he attended Sacrament meeting this last Sunday. 

♡Trios and quads mean you have more people taking care of you and more people to take care of and they are awesome! 

♡Charity will get you pretty far. About as far as the Savior would get. Jesus was still rejected even with his perfect love. And as a missionary, people definitely still don't care to hear our message or talk with us but having charity I also have confidence and it's much easier to feel love for people even when they are rude than to have resentment begin to build up. Choose to be charitable. Assume people have good intentions.

♡Crockpot Chicken 10/10

♡There is joy in daily repentance if you aren't repenting everyday you are missing out on joy everyday.

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

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

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

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

Wow

 Hey y'all!

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

An update from last week's edition. The four of us have a new dryer (our 3rd one) & it works! Hurrah! In other news they have a new apartment and they are splitting us up. Hopefully we will have til the end of the transfer but we don't know. 

I'd much rather have a broken dryer than have my sweet sisters taken away. But the transfer ends soon anyways.

Lately (the last two-ish months) I've had lots of people help me ponder on the Word of Wisdom. 

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we have The Lord's Law of Health or the Word of Wisdom. It is what the Lord has asked us to do to take care of bodies. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to take care of our bodies because they are sacred gifts. We are specifically taught to eat healthy and to not use harmful substances. My trainer used the word C.A.T.T.S. to describe what should not enter our bodies. C-coffee, A- alcohol, T- tobacco, T- tea, S- scary drugs/substances (depends on audience).

The blessings for living in accordance to the Lord's law of Health include; health (go figure), wisdom, treasures of knowledge, and protection. These are powerful promised blessings!

[For additional information or to fact check please refer to page 86 of Preach My Gospel or Doctrine and Covenants 89]

There's been so many people that get stuck because of their addictions. 

In my mission there’s a rule where if someone hasn't been to Sacrament meeting in two weeks we can't teach them anymore. This may seem harsh but I can testify that even though us missionaries have to give up on people the Lord never ever does. The Lord is always aware of them and ever preparing them to accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

With this rule things tend to be fast paced because a lot of people don't come to church. 

I've met people that do come to church but we can't continue teaching them because they continue to drink coffee or smoke (that's a big one), or they're alcoholics (this one is so sad). 

One lady I had the privilege of teaching for a short time had been having drinking problems for a long time. She lost custody of her kids when they were little for it. She was meeting with missionaries because she wanted to change because she was about to meet one of her now adult daughters. I won't be there for the happy ending but eternity is long and people have many, many opportunities to make changes so I'm confident there will be a happy ending but maybe not soon.

Two days ago we met a man named Tim. Tim spends $300 on alcohol every week. He was able to stop for 15 months but now it's as bad as it was before. Tim thinks about what that $300 could do for someone that really needs money but he can't stop.

On Friday night when we met Tim he said he knows he's dying. And he is. He has some pretty extreme liver issues. And Tim says everyone he knows is going to heaven. Everyone except him. And he's scared. He doesn't want to burn.

Well, the Lord's plan is far more merciful than that and Tim has a lot to learn. And hopefully I'll get to help teach him but it could go either way. While I was drinking the water that's been blessed by the priesthood, Tim was drinking something else.

If Tim does come to Sacrament meeting I know he'll be blessed with an increase of the Spirit and that'll get him pretty far. 

Tim is a good person and he's not going to burn. But he's still got some work to do. So do I. 

Please never mess around with potentially addictive anything. Drugs, alcohol, pornography. There's just no valid reason to mess with it. There just isn't. 

Addictions ruin lives in so many ways. Tim is physically dying. The woman I mentioned earlier probably will not be in contact with one of her daughters in this lifetime.

I know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can and do heal and help fix anything and everything. But if we can avoid needing healing and fixing let's avoid it.

Love ya!

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: Word of Wisdom= 

Addictions=

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