September 18, 2017 Utica Stake Conference! and TRANSFERS!

   So, I found out that I am going to Oswego! I heard that this time of year it is crazy because of all the fishing... but we will see.

Here are a few things that I summed up from Stake conference;

   There is truly no greater role than that of Mother and Father. They are sacred titles that are shared with out Heavenly Parents. One of the greatest difficulties as a parent is agency and placing someone else before yourself. 2 Nephi 2:25 says, "Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they may have joy." Sometimes parenting is not joyful. But, 'parents fall that there children might have joy.' One of the greatest blessings of parenthood is seeing joyful children and receiving a glimpse of what our Heavenly Father feels and sees for us.

   The best way to help children understand the difficulty and importance of this future role is by modeling it and creating an environment where they can learn of it. Living a balanced life of: physical (D&C 89), mental [keeping mind and environment clean, also continuing education], emotional [we came to earth to process emotions] and spiritual- will nurture and teach.

   The world will teach children if we do not. Having a balance and understanding of what is important will allow children to be raised in light (D&C 93:40) Way's to help bring that light is by:

• weekly attending church and always going to learn.
• having consistent family home evening
• encouraging good media and habits
• Daily praying with family and allowing children to see you pray personally and for them.
• Daily Scripture study where the doctrine is applied (1 Nephi 19:23) and understood.
• Doing family history and talking about the importance of the temple- while going often personally.

(2 Nephi 25:26) We cannot just hope our testimony will enter into the next generation by osmosis. We must talk about Christ often, leading by example (children and youth can detect hypocrisy), and loving them openly.

   I have never been a parent before, but all of the talks really touched me and emphasized the importance of the purpose of this life and the life to come. I hope that we all can come closer to our savior with our families and those we teach.

Peter French & Katelyn

Bryan & Katelyn

Fish Face

Katelyn & Lori Burns

A really cool old truck!

Me in Norway

My District

The Smith's from Hamilton took us to lunch.

The Nishimoto Family

The Crazy Nishimoto's

The Sister's in my District

Transfer's where will I go?

 

September 11, 2017 Fall is Coming!

  This week has again flown by and brought with it Fall! I am very excited for the colors and wonderful beauty that Heavenly Father has given me to witness.

   From church, we had another wonderful discussion and I learned a lot. So, Did you know that negativity is a habit? It is something that it will effect you more than those around you! When you speak badly about others it hurts them, but through personal prayer and scripture study then can feel Heavenly Father's love for them and overcome those emotions- but you will still have that lens that you will see your life through. 

  Someone in the Class said that "What you say about others is a reflection of something you have noticed about yourself." I think that in part that is true. We all have weaknesses Ether 12:27, Heavenly Father desires to uplift us and use our struggles to help us become stronger. 

  https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/spiritual-whirlwinds

There are times when it is important to be understood, and others when it is important to be understanding. I know that if we pray for the discernment to know when to speak and when to be silent the spirit will whisper to our minds the things to say or do.

Sometimes when we love someone we want them to hear all that we have to say- because we know that it will benefit them and greatly impact there life, Saving them from walking down a perilous road. But, The world takes us out of the slums, Christ takes the slums out of us. If we are to be like the Savior, we must be the examples that will show love and uplift. Sometimes words or one big 'cleanup' will make no difference at all. But the way that we act and treat others will.

D&C 136:23 says, "Cease to contend one with another; cease to speak evil one of another."   We can replace contention with kindness, and words of negativity with Charity.

We are children of the most High, our example and big brother is the lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All of us have a role model that we can read about, study, and talk with. None of us are ever alone in this quest to become ready to meet them again. But I know that it will be that much easier to grow and uplift others if we ourselves are already uplifted and away from negativity.

I love you all and hope that we can start in the homes, cleansing them of contention and negativity, then spread that to all around and cover the Earth.

Have a wonderful week and never forget to pray for the attributes needed to truly understand and love our neighbor's.

Sister's Lemon, Davies, Reintjez, and Elgaaen

September 4, 2017 Servant of the Lord

   This week was yet another one full of learning, growing and drawing closer to my savior. It is starting to get colder and all the New York people are not excited for what that entails- Snow.

   In Sunday school an offside comment got me thinking. We were talking about how crazy the world is and how wonderful that this church is being run by Jesus Christ so that nothing could ever halt its progression. Someone stated that it was like a machine that would work well under any stresses that the world could provide. The off hand comment was that when we as human's are stressed the part of our brain that allows for abstract thought and concentration on what is around you- Shuts down. This means that when something is hard and really making you worry all that you have is your habits and 'knee-jerk' responses. 

   The prophets in both ancient and modern times tell us that we must pray daily, study and ponder the scriptures often, and attend church. I believe that one of the reasons for this is that- Heavenly Father is aware at how dark the world is becoming. He knows the things that will protect us and provide light in a darkening world. It is only though personal prayer and personal study that our questions are answered, our faith is strengthened, and we are able to provide solutions to problems that are yet to come.

   If we are doing these things then when life happens- we will be prepared. It is like food storage, when a disaster comes you will be ready. You cannot go out an obtain storage enough for a disaster the night before, it takes time and effort. Just like with life. When a storm approaches we will be firm and UN-moving (Helaman 5:12) We will have the instinct to turn to our Loving Father in Heaven as soon as things become difficult, and the storage of understanding and knowledge that He could choose from to bring to our remembrance to provide comfort.

   I hope that we all continue to make the daily habits of praying and reading. I know that as we do, questions will be answered, and we will be more clearly be able to see the pathway Heavenly Father has paved for us when the world darkens.

Have a wonderful week!!

A Spoonful of Cereal

Another Windy day in New York

A Beautiful End to the Week!

On the Slide

 

 

August 28,2017 The Lord's House and The Book of Mormon

 This week was AMAZING! I was able to step into the Lord's house with Sarah O'Marah and feel of the Lord's love for her, and all of those who we did work for. It was very wonderful to witness Sarah feel the spirit so strongly in the Confirmation room that she was unable to hold back tears. I know that someone accepted the gospel that day in the Temple. I am grateful that I was able to gain that understanding with something greater than my sight.

Sister Davies, Sister Elgaaen, Sarah

   The main focus this past week in my studies has been the Book of Mormon! I gave a talk in sacrament meeting about it. The Book of Mormon IS another testament of Jesus Christ. It is, " a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible." (D&C 42:12). It is "a new and additional witness that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that all who will come unto Him and obey the laws and ordinances of His gospel may be saved." We will get nearer to our Heavenly Father as we truly read and study from this book. If we read, ponder, and pray- we "WILL gain a testimony of its truth". The Book of Mormon truly is the 'Keystone of our Religion'. It witnesses of our Savior on every page, "Those who know little to nothing about the savior will come to know Him by reading, pondering and praying about the Book of Mormon. " (preach my gospel). It contains a fullness of the Gospel, and it is the basis of our Testimony. 

Katelyn at the Sacred Grove

   My mission President stated that Faith is centered on Jesus Christ- but a Testimony is centered on the Book of Mormon. President Monson's Concluding testimony last April stated, "... Because the Book of Mormon is true, the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints is the Lord's Church on the earth, and the holy priesthood of God has been restored for the benefit and blessing of His children." Another Prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley also proclaimed, "Those who have read [the Book of Mormon] prayerfully, be they rich or poor, learned or unlearned, have grown under its power... without reservation I promise you that if you will prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it, there will come unto your hearts... the spirit of the Lord. There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and there will come a stronger testimony of the Living reality of the Son of God."

   The Book of Mormon answer's all the questions of the soul and can provide peace that will come in no other way than by opening the Book and allowing Heavenly Father to answer your prayers.

   The New York Utica Mission has set the Month of September aside to 'Flood the Earth with the Book of Mormon'. A talk I found on this said, "The time is long overdue for a massive flooding of the Earth with the Book of Mormon for the many reasons which the Lord has given. In this age of the electronic media and the mass distribution of the printed work, God will hold us accountable if we don not now move the Book of Mormon in a monumental way... We have the Book of Mormon, we have the members, we have the missionaries, we have the resources, and the world has the need. THE TIME IS NOW!" This talk touched me because even though you all are not in New York... I know that going out and just sharing a favorite scripture that you read that morning will bless the lives of those around you. There is power in this little blue book. No one is going to feel that unless we go out and share it with them. We don't need to toss out books to every stranger we see- But I promise that everyone you know will be blessed by you if you share simply your favorite Book of Mormon scripture.

I KNOW that the Book of Mormon is true. I study out of it every day, and will never be persuaded otherwise. I gain more peace and feel God's love increased in my life when even holding the book with me. My Testimony of this book is beyond my words. I know it is true, and I know it was written for me. 

I love you all and hope that you are able to help 'Flood the Earth' with the Lord's word.

Katelyn, Sarah, Sister Davies

Knock, Knock

Sister Davies did my hair before giving a talk today.

Eclipse

Palmyra New York Temple

Picnic Lunch in Palmyra