"A home established on gospel principles will be a place of refuge and safety. It will be a place where the spirit of the Lord can abide, blessing family members with peace, joy, and happiness."
or in other words
"What's a huge fight that begins and ends with a prayer?"
"What?"
"Family Home Evening"
-Brother Tew
lol
How cool is it, that we have a Father that we don't see that is looking out for us, working through us for others, working through others for us, blessing us, and allowing us to learn?
How incredible is it, that He gave us familes, and the opportunity to create families, to be able to further pattern our lives after His?
If you think back to the first time you laid eyes on your newborn baby, or every other time you have felt love for your children, that is Gods way of saying
"See? There you go. That's how I feel about you."
He allows us to experience the love of family relationships to know how much He loves us, and to have a strong unit of our brothers and sisters to make it back to Him, and to help each other become like Him.
He isn't just going to give us all He has later, He gives us a portion of what He has RIGHT NOW to be added upon for the rest of eternity.
True story: I do not have a child.
(Shocker)
I have a dog, I love her a lot, but probably not as much as I will love my children. And I've been told that there is no greater love felt on Earth than between spouses and from a parent to their child.
Well snap... I don't have either of those things.
However I am currently in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
+ I love my family SO so much
and the people I have met this past year
my Florida Family
Florida+Family+Friends=MyFamily
So the question is how has the gospel blessed your family?
How has your family helped you to follow the gospel?
When I was born I was automatically sealed to my parents for all time and eternity
same when my brother and sister were born
BUT
what about Saul?
My little brother saul is from Guatemala, which explains why he is so much whiter than me ;)
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| Love at FIRST SIGHT :) |
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| 2013 |
I know that Saul is my brother, he was from even before this Earthly life
but we were not sealed until I was 12
I remember that day like it was yesterday, I remember how I felt, and I remember in the temple looking at the two mirrors facing each other how they went on and on forever symbolizing families being with each other forever.
The gospel has also helped each of us individually to be better people, to serve one another, learn hard work, service, and Christ like love.
It helps us to know who we are. We are more than a piece of DNA,a particle of matter, or an accident of nature.
We are children of Divine decent. I've said it before I'll say it again.
We are called to make the world a better place to lift one another and embrace each other as family. The gospel blesses our physical and spiritual families.
In other words the gospel blesses EVERYONE
Blessing: N.
"God's favor and protection"
The Gospel Creates God's Favor and Protection For Everyone
This week we had some good times and some rough times.
{normal}
But definitely a highlight was the lesson on the Restoration with Angelica
Angelica came to church about a month ago with a friend. She has a couple of kids and she grew up in Venezuela where she took the lessons from a couple of Elders many years ago.
We set up a time to meet with her, but she panicked and changed her mind
Well last week we found out she was back in town and wanted to meet with us so we went over and had one of the most amazing lessons I've ever been part of.
She is so prepared to receive the gospel.
As I recited the First Vision tears filled my eyes.
I realized what it meant for families that Heavenly Father and His son appeared to that young boy Joseph Smith.
When Josephs brother died without baptism, a pastor in the area told him that his brother went to Hell and that there was nothing that could be done.
But because of the restoration those saving ordinances are done in the temple for the dead. Joseph Smith was baptized for his brother, and we can all do that for our families. The gospel blesses families not just here on Earth, but everyone who ever has lived and the generations to come as well.
We taught about the Restoration and she identified the spirit she was feeling and she came to church this Sunday. It was awesome.
I will try to share more next week, there are currently Elder zombies approaching and I left my Nerf gun on the other side of the church so I have to hide right now. I LOVE YOU ALL
<3
Make it a great day!
-Sister Saunders
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| my desk |
ps
CRAZY THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN THE MISSION RN
schedule changes I will specify next week
All around the world our daily schedule has been revised to give us more time to proselyte and less time to study and more time on Prep day to prepare for the week. It's a Christmas miracle, and shows just how much the Lord is ready to hasten the work, and how much He trusts us to be able to do it.
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| "Tea Party" after District meeting |
and we water tortured Elder Langston on Tuesday because he insisted that Chinese water torture couldn't be that bad.. he ended up with a really bad headache and ringing in his ears after only 15 minutes of a water dropping in the same place of his forehead. Apparently when it's legit, they let it drip until it feels like a hammer hitting your head.
YIKES that sounds horrible. Don't do water torture.
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| Bye Bye Elder Sanders~he got transferred |
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| My Sister Masi |
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| Sister Housel:) |
-Sister Saunders
