My Dearest Family,
Sister Sorensen and I have felt a little differently about life this week. We have been able to do some really great things--such as have our lovely friend baptized, but we also have felt a sadness about the conditions of our wards. All three are struggling in the two most important areas-- Charity and Service--which is something every ward and every person can improve on. I was rereading Sister Silvia Allred's address from last Conference---"The Essence of Discipleship" and those two things--charity and service are the crux of being a disciple of Christ. Our wards have many great members, but they have a hard time looking past their own group of friends, as many of us struggle to do. The less actives are usually less active for a reason and it is hard to persuade them to come back. But that doesn't mean we can give up! That doesn't mean we can excuse our lack of service.
So Sister Sorensen and I fasted for the inspiration to help revive our wards and we are keeping that task continually before our minds. The scripture that just keeps coming to mind in Matt 22:36-40. I just am not quite sure how to get the wards to really understand the severity of those commandments--that they are commandments we must do! Our poor wards are getting very discouraged and it makes us sad too. They are great people whom we love dearly, but we know that through the power of God they can reach their full potential and help the word of God to spread forth to fill the whole earth. We know that through the power of God we can do anything. The Lord always answers the prayers of the righteous who have the faith to ask. So we are really going to work on that this week. We've had a few ideas come to mind--such a mottos or stickers--but we'll get the right answer through the whisperings of the Spirit, so we'll continue to seek that.
A little more on our beautiful new Sister; she is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She has turned all of her trials into sources of faith as she has relied on Christ. And every time I see her I am amazed at her beauty--she truly is God's precious daughter. At her baptism she shared her moment of conversion to the Church with us. It was after she had failed her first baptismal interview (because she still lacked faith in the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith) and started a fasting with us to help her get her answer. As she was reading the Book of Mormom she was lead to Ether 12:27 and as she read that verse of scripture the Holy Ghost touched her soul. After that she was ready and committed. Since her second baptismal interview she has been rock solid and has actually helped in lessons. She is a very needed addition to our little singles branch.
Well, there is much work to be done, but I feel as I study diligence in the scriptures and in PMG that that really is the answer to all of this! Work, and work by the Spirit. I am so excited to see the miracles that will come after the showing forth of our faith! I love this Gospel and I know that God is here helping us along.
I love you all so much and I am so grateful for your prayers. As Sister Sorensen is coming to the end of her mission we have a lot of goals left to work towards and I believe we will see miracles! So stay and touch and be good!!!
Love you all so much,
Sister Brooke Smith
Sister Sorensen and I have felt a little differently about life this week. We have been able to do some really great things--such as have our lovely friend baptized, but we also have felt a sadness about the conditions of our wards. All three are struggling in the two most important areas-- Charity and Service--which is something every ward and every person can improve on. I was rereading Sister Silvia Allred's address from last Conference---"The Essence of Discipleship" and those two things--charity and service are the crux of being a disciple of Christ. Our wards have many great members, but they have a hard time looking past their own group of friends, as many of us struggle to do. The less actives are usually less active for a reason and it is hard to persuade them to come back. But that doesn't mean we can give up! That doesn't mean we can excuse our lack of service.
So Sister Sorensen and I fasted for the inspiration to help revive our wards and we are keeping that task continually before our minds. The scripture that just keeps coming to mind in Matt 22:36-40. I just am not quite sure how to get the wards to really understand the severity of those commandments--that they are commandments we must do! Our poor wards are getting very discouraged and it makes us sad too. They are great people whom we love dearly, but we know that through the power of God they can reach their full potential and help the word of God to spread forth to fill the whole earth. We know that through the power of God we can do anything. The Lord always answers the prayers of the righteous who have the faith to ask. So we are really going to work on that this week. We've had a few ideas come to mind--such a mottos or stickers--but we'll get the right answer through the whisperings of the Spirit, so we'll continue to seek that.
A little more on our beautiful new Sister; she is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She has turned all of her trials into sources of faith as she has relied on Christ. And every time I see her I am amazed at her beauty--she truly is God's precious daughter. At her baptism she shared her moment of conversion to the Church with us. It was after she had failed her first baptismal interview (because she still lacked faith in the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith) and started a fasting with us to help her get her answer. As she was reading the Book of Mormom she was lead to Ether 12:27 and as she read that verse of scripture the Holy Ghost touched her soul. After that she was ready and committed. Since her second baptismal interview she has been rock solid and has actually helped in lessons. She is a very needed addition to our little singles branch.
Well, there is much work to be done, but I feel as I study diligence in the scriptures and in PMG that that really is the answer to all of this! Work, and work by the Spirit. I am so excited to see the miracles that will come after the showing forth of our faith! I love this Gospel and I know that God is here helping us along.
I love you all so much and I am so grateful for your prayers. As Sister Sorensen is coming to the end of her mission we have a lot of goals left to work towards and I believe we will see miracles! So stay and touch and be good!!!
Love you all so much,
Sister Brooke Smith
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